PHYSIOLOGY. 461 



sense is by no means different from that of feeling ; it is 

 only the combination of feeling with motion. 



2797. The fingers are the most perfect organs of feel- 

 ing, because they are the most moveable parts of the 

 body, and therefore they are organs of touch. 



2798. As simple feeling perceives the asperities of 

 bodies, so does touch the forms. The perception of 

 forms is based upon the form that resides in the tactile 

 organ itself. 



2799. Ah 1 possible forms reside in the motion of the 

 fingers. 



2800. Each hand is a semi-ellipse, in which the four 

 fingers are the periphery, the thumb the radius. Both 

 hands together form a perfect ellipse with two radii. 



2801. Now, in the ellipse are involved all geometrical 

 figures. The hands include in their movements the 

 whole of geometry. 



2802. We can only perceive the forms of nature, be- 

 cause they all reside in ourselves, because we can create 

 them. This, and none other, is the meaning or sense of 

 the doctrine of pre-established harmony. 



2803. The sense of touch is also the sense of form. 

 The fingers constitute so perfect an organ, that it is 

 scarcely requisite for us to estimate all its value. In it 

 the whole body is repeated simply in forms, in spiritual 

 motions. 



2804. Through the hand the whole planet becomes 

 an object unto us. It is the hand which instructs us 

 how to know this terrestrial world. 



2805. The greatest perfection is attained by the 

 greatest variety or multiplied diversity of the organs. 

 The limbs are simply destined for motion, yet feeling 

 also resides in them, because they are invested with in- 

 tegument. Could the limbs therefore divide into motor 

 and tactile members, the conceivable sum total of per- 

 fection must be attained. This division is present alone 

 in Man. The feet have become simply locomotive mem- 

 bers, because they are those of the sex ; but the hands 

 have become tactile members, because they are those of 

 the encephalic animal. 



