EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 



portunity afforded by doing so of stating the argu- 

 ments most clearly. 



" I divided the spinal marrow of a very lively snake 

 between the second and third vertebrae. The move- 

 ments of the animal were immediately before extreme- 

 ly vigorous and unintermitted. From the moment of 

 the division of the spinal marrow it lay perfectly tran- 

 quil and motionless, with the exception of occasional 

 gaspings and slight movements of the head. It be- 

 came quite evident that this state of quiescence would 

 continue indefinitely were the animal secured from all 

 external impressions. 



" Being now stimulated, the body began to move 

 with great activity, and continued to do so for a con- 

 siderable time, each change of position or situation 

 bringing some fresh part of the surface of the animal 

 into contact with the table or other objects and re- 

 newing the application of stimulants. 



"At length the animal became again quiescent; and 

 being carefully protected from all external impressions 

 it moved no more, but died in the precise position and 

 form which it had last assumed. 



" It requires a little manoeuvre to perform this ex- 

 periment successfully : the motions of the animal must 

 be watched and slowly and cautiously arrested by 

 opposing some soft substance, as a glove or cotton 

 wool; they are by this means gradually lulled into 

 quiescence. The slightest touch with a hard substance, 

 the slightest stimulus, will, on the other hand, renew 

 the movements on the animal in an active form. Hut 

 that this phenomenon does not depend upon sensation 

 is further fully proved by the facts that the position 



257 



