24:0 ANIMAL AUTOMATISM. 



for it to be permissible to me to suppose that any com- 

 plex natural phenomenon comes into existence suddenly, 

 and without being preceded by simpler modifications ; 

 and very strong arguments would be needed to prove 

 that such complex phenomena, as those of conscious- 

 ness, first make their appearance in man. "We know, 

 that, in the individual man, consciousness grows from a 

 dim glimmer to its full light, whether we consider the 

 infant advancing in years, or the adult emerging from 

 slumber and swoon. We know, further, that the lower 

 animals possess, though less developed, that part of the 

 brain which we have every reason to believe to be the 

 organ of consciousness in man; and as, in other cases, 

 function and organ are proportional, so we have a right 

 to conclude it is with the brain; and that the brutes, 

 rthough they may not possess our intensity of conscious- 

 ness, and though, from the absence of language, they 

 can have no trains of thoughts, but only trains of feel- 

 ings, yet have a consciousness which, more or less dis- 

 tinctly, foreshadows our own. 



I confess that, in view of the struggle for existence 

 which goes on in the animal world, and of the fright- 

 ful quantity of pain with which it must be accompanied, 

 I should be glad if the probabilities were in favour of 

 Descartes' hypothesis ; but, on the other hand, consider- 

 ing the terrible practical consequences to domestic ani- 

 mals which might ensue from any error on our part, it 

 is as well to err on the right side, if we err at all, and 

 deal with them as weaker brethren, who are bound, like 



