208 ANIMAL AUTOMATISM. 



theory of these processes, which has been followed by 

 all his successors. 



Descartes was no mere speculator, as some would 

 have us believe: but a man who knew of his own 

 knowledge what was to be known of the facts of 

 anatomy and physiology in his day. He was an un- 

 wearied dissector and observer; and it is said, that, on 

 a visitor once asking to see his library, Descartes led 

 him into a room set aside for dissections, and full of 

 specimens under examination. "There," said he, "is 

 my library." 



I anticipate a smile of incredulity when I thus 

 champion Descartes' claim to be considered a physiologist 

 of the first rank. I expect to be told that I have read 

 into his works what I find there, and to be asked, "Why 

 is it that we are left to discover Descartes' deserts at 

 this time of day, more than two centuries after his 

 death? How is it that Descartes is utterly ignored in 

 some of the latest works which treat expressly of the 

 subject in which he is said to have been so great? 



It is much easier to ask such questions than to answer 

 them, especially if one desires to be on good terms with 

 one's contemporaries ; but, if I must give an answer, it 

 is this : The growth of physical science is now so pro- 

 digiously rapid, that those who are actively engaged in 

 keeping up with the present, have much ado to find 

 time to look at the past, and even grow into the habit 

 of neglecting it. But, natural as this result may be, it 

 is none the less detrimental. The intellect loses, for 



