V ANIMAL AUTOMATISM 223 



nerves which come off from the cord below the 

 point of section ; nevertheless, the frog lifts up 

 the limb of the same side, and applies the foot to 

 rub off the acetic acid; and, what is still more 

 remarkable, if the limb be held so that the frog 

 cannot use it, it will, by and by, move the limb of 

 the other side, turn it across the body, and use it 

 for the same rubbing process. It is impossible 

 that the frog, if it were in its entirety and could 

 reason, should perform actions more purposive 

 than these: and yet we have most complete 

 assurance that, in this case, the frog is not acting 

 from purpose, has no consciousness, and is a mere 

 insensible machine. 



But now suppose that, instead of making a 

 section of the cord in the middle of the body, it 

 had been made in such a manner as to separate 

 the hindennost division of the brain from the 

 rest of the organ, and suppose the foremost two- 

 thirds of the brain entirely taken away. The 

 frog is then absolutely devoid of any spontaneity ; 

 it sits upright in the attitude which a frog 

 habitually assumes ; and it will not stir unless it 

 is touched ; but it differs from the frog which I 

 have just described in this, that, if it be thrown 

 into the water, it begins to swim, and swims just 

 as well as the perfect frog does. But swimming 

 requires the combination and successive co-ordina- 

 tion of a great number of muscular actions. And 

 we are forced to conclude, that the impression 



