NERVES THE INSTRUMENTS OF IMPULSES 65 



intangible impulses : it reduces the actions of the 

 body to a mechanical regularity, renders them, 

 indeed, predictable. Yet, if we carefully examine 

 so much of our behaviour as is capable of being 

 examined by us, so much, that is to say, as is 

 regulated by, or is connected with the action of 

 the brain, we shall find much that it is impossible 

 to reconcile with the notion that the driving force 

 of the body is localized in the nerve-cells. Res- 

 pecting the action of the " reflex " nerve system 

 (which regulates the functioning of our internal 

 organs) we cannot feel confident : it acts out of 

 consultation with the brain and lies, therefore, 

 beyond the range of our observation. But, this 

 system apart, the behaviour of our bodies, if 

 introspectively examined, is seen to be governed, 

 fundamentally, not by sensory impressions or 

 memories, but by the powerful impulses that 

 have been compared to main-springs. A mother 

 is not affected by the sight of another's child as 

 by the sight of her own : she regards one with the 

 maternal impulse, the other without it. The 

 immediate cause of a visit to Switzerland may 

 have been the chance perusal of a volume of 

 Baedeker ; but its fundamental cause lay in 

 curiosity or a desire of change an impulse to 

 travel. Lacking this impulse all the Baedekers 

 in the world would not have tempted me. My 

 efforts in writing this book are started by daily 

 recollections of the undertaking ; but they have 

 their origin in a wish to employ myself, in ambition, 

 curiosity, or that strange desire to cause pain to 

 others that manifests the instinct of cruelty. A 

 pianist, who, relying upon her " ideo-motor " 

 aptitude, executes a brilliant piece of music while 

 thinking of a love affair, is subconsciously guided 

 by her sensations or memories of the notes ; but 

 the reason for her playing at all must be sought in 



