93 



March ^ 1892. 



Professor M. F. FitzGerald, B.A., C.E., in the Chair. 



Dr. John MacCormac gave a lecture on 

 THE INFLUENCE OF LANGUAGE AND ENVIRON- 

 MENT UPON THE INDIVIDUAL THROUGH THE 

 NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



Dr. MacCormac said : — Much has been said and written in 

 the present day about the development of physical characteris- 

 tics by the surroundings or necessities of animate nature, and on 

 the influence of heredity and environment upon individuality ; 

 but it appears to me that sufficient stress has scarcely been laid 

 upon the important agent in the process conveniently termed 

 the nervous system. When we consider that every act which 

 distinguishes animate from inanimate nature is dependent upon 

 nervous influence, and that the pulsations of the heart, the 

 inflation of the lungs, the perceptions of sight, sound, smell, 

 and taste owe their origin to the wonderful system of nerves 

 and nerve-centres, we may easily form some idea of the part 

 they play in the economy of man. A celebrated physiologist 

 has said — " If the knowledge of the structure and of the proper- 

 ties of the human body ought to direct the study of the pheno- 

 mena of life, on the other part these phenomena, embraced in 

 their entirety, and considered under all points of view, cast a 

 great light on the properties which they show in action." These 

 words should impress upon all earnest students of the various 

 phenomena of human existence the absolute necessity of con- 

 sidering, not only the structure and mutual relationship of the 

 various parts of the body, but also the influence of these upon 

 his higher and nobler nature. 



