On the Scientific Study of Human Nature. 467 



may arise, when a large amount of feeling, or nerve excite- 

 ment, is suddenly awakened. This may be discharged in 

 several directions. One portion may be spent upon the 

 muscles of the face and chest, producing laughter ; another 

 portion may pass along the nerves leading to the stomach, 

 perhaps stimulating digestion ; and a third may be ex- 

 pended in producing other states of consciousness or new 

 trains of ideas. Mental action is thus manifested as 

 definite and limited nervous action, and when we speak of 

 the unfolding of mind, as in education, the fact signified is 

 the growing adaptation of the brain and nervous apparatus 

 to produce more and more complex effects in accordance 

 with their necessary mode of working. 



The child comes into the world a little fountain of 

 spontaneous power. For certain purposes its nervous 

 mechanism is perfected, channels of discharge are open, 

 connections are ready formed, and reflex actions go on 

 from the first. The infant also inherits the capabilities 

 of its type that is, the possibility of high development 

 which belongs to man as distinguished from inferior 

 creatures ; and it also inherits the special tendencies and 

 aptitudes of its particular ancestors. The order of the 

 surrounding universe now begins to take effect upon it, 

 and working within its organic limits, which of course vary 

 widely in different cases, its education begins. Impres- 

 sions pour in through the senses, and begin to open chan- 

 nels of discharge through the nerve centres. The child 

 sees and desires an object, but has more or less difficulty 

 in connecting the sensation with the movement necessary 

 to seize it. By numberless efforts a nervous path is at 

 length formed, and when a desirable object is seen, the 

 sensation discharges upon the proper muscles, producing a 

 suitable movement, and the hand grasps it. So with walk- 

 ing and speaking ; by repeated exertions lines of nervous 

 discharge are completed, and the sensations involved are 



