

METHODS 145 



not followed by a centrifugal outflow determining ana- 

 tomical movements, spreads and is lost in the brain substance 

 and modifies along its passage colloid states by tightening the 

 springs. The animal is aware of these modifications of the 

 colloid state produced in its nervous cells ; they give it 

 the memory of impressions received another subject of 

 study. 



The brain is, therefore, an accumulator. This accumulator 

 can be discharged in various ways, either in an external 

 and mechanical form (anatomical movements), or in a 

 purely intra-cerebral form by transforming itself into other 

 colloid states or by determining chemical phenomena. 

 In the same way, intra-cerebral chemical phenomena may 

 be accompanied by colloid movements which do not issue 

 forth from the brain. In this case the phenomena are 

 known only by the being in whom they occur ; they are 

 translated for him by thoughts. Such thoughts may be 

 followed by mechanical acts (anatomical movements), if the 

 influence of transmission of colloid variations goes beyond 

 the brain ; then they become manifest externally. The 

 outside observer, who has no means of knowing either the 

 colloid or chemical phenomena taking place in the brain of 

 the animal and ignorant of the real origin of such anatomical 

 movements, may believe in their spontaneity, that is, may 

 imagine that the animal does work with nothing. 



These few considerations are enough to make us under- 

 stand the origin of the error, still widespread outside of the 

 scientific world, that animals can create movement, whereas 

 they are only wonderful transformers, subject like all trans- 

 formers to the principles of equivalents. 



It is impossible to study directly the transformations 

 produced in totalities so complex as man or mammals. Each 

 of them comprises several trillion cells and these cells react 



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