Mind and Matter 107 



be surmised or provisionally granted, with- 

 out thereby concurring in any destructive 

 criticism of other facts and experiences, 

 is explained in Chapter X. on "Life," 

 further on : and there I emphasise my 

 agreement with parts of the speculative 

 contentions of Professor Haeckel on the 

 positive side. 



Soul and Body. 



Let us consider what are the facts scientifi- 

 cally known concerning the interaction 

 between mind and matter. Fundamentally 

 they amount to this : that a complex piece 

 of matter, called the brain, is the organ or 

 instrument of mind and consciousness ; that 

 if it be stimulated mental activity results ; 

 that if it be injured or destroyed no mani- 

 festation of mental activity is possible. 

 Moreover, it is assumed, and need not be 

 doubted, that a portion of brain substance 

 is consumed, oxidised let us say, in every 

 act of mentation : using that term in the 



