SYMBOLIC SENSATIONS 53 



be stimulated and directed by sensory impressions, 

 not only of things, but of symbols of things. 

 Such are words, whether spoken or written. The 

 word " sea " is a symbol : to one who had never 

 seen water it would mean and could mean nothing. 

 But, associated in the memory with a large ex- 

 panse of water, it calls up this idea, when seen 

 or heard. 







By our sensory equipment of nerves and nerve- 

 cells we receive impressions not only of things 

 that are outside us but of the movements and 

 condition of our own bodily organs. If we lift 

 an arm we have an impression of its movement 

 which is as clear as any impression that we derive 

 from touch. We have, moreover, an impression of 

 the amount of force exerted by us in, for instance, 

 lifting a weight : we remember this impression, and 

 associate it with objects of similar size. We are, 

 accordingly, much surprised if an object, which 

 appears from its size to be heavy, proves to be 

 light when we essay to move it. We also have 

 some impressions of the condition of our internal 

 organs ; they may be associated with very 

 definite feelings of pleasure or pain, but are 

 ordinarily vague and uninstructive. A man has 

 but a very indistinct idea of the hidden processes 

 upon which his life depends. 



In fine, by our nervous organisation we receive 

 sensory impressions of things that are outside us, 

 of symbols of these things (the most important of 

 which are words, heard or read), and of the move- 

 ments of our own bodies ; and, in some mysteri- 

 ous fashion, we are also aware of mental occur- 

 rences of memories and thoughts which have 

 been generated by sensory impressions of the 

 past. 



