258 APPENDIX. [No. XVI. 



tissue. After leaving them for a few minutes, so that they might be in 

 the same state, they were connected with the galvanometer without 

 sensible deflection of the needle. After a few moments, the animal, not 

 liking the treatment, made an attempt to bite my finger, and the deflection 

 of the galvanometer instantly showed the mechanism of volition. I then 

 gave the creature a piece of wood to bite, upon which it used all its power 

 of mastication; and by catching the oscillation of the needle, a very 

 powerful current was exhibited." 



"We have thus, as clearly as the subject would well admit of, traced an 

 outline of the author's peripheral battery : we now come to the details 

 concerning the central battery. The author maps out the brain into 

 different regions, separated by commissures : to the first, which repeats the 

 impressions conveyed by the sensor, or aisthenic nerves, he assigns the 

 term Phreno-Aisthenics : the second, or that by which combined impressions 

 are retained, is Syndramics : third, the seeing of numerous objects, or 

 hearing of numerous sounds, conveys but one idea of sight or audition ; 

 the term for this mechanism is A i sthenic-Uoemics : fourth, Syndramic- 

 Noemics, for the ideas derived from combined senses : fifth, Pneiama- 

 Noemics, for the notion of infinity : and lastly, to quote the author's own 

 words, " we have to consider from whence the impulse is sent for the brain to 

 cause action : a study which may be conveniently followed under the term 

 of Noemic-Dynamics The details are exceedingly difficult to com- 

 prehend in all their minutiae ; and yet I trust, by passing gradually from 

 the simple to the complex, the leading features of this wonderful and 

 intricate apparatus will be developed; and though the exemplification 

 of the structure of a single brain woidd occupy many acres, I can exhibit 

 examples of the mode of acting in the several departments by ordinary 

 voltaic combinations. 



" The requisites of action, blood, and nerve, are found in sufficient 

 abundance in the central battery or brain, as that organ is literally nothing 

 but fibres and blood-vessels. The nervous fibres are so numerous, that no 

 estimate could be given of the myriads of which the brain is composed ; 

 in fact, the whole of the white matter of the brain is composed of nerve 

 tubes." 



We believe it was Coleridge who once met a metaphysical serving- 

 maid at a tavern in Germany, and was surprised by hearing her express 

 her belief that every thought, idea, or impression received generated in the 

 brain, remained there ever afterwards, each one stored up in a minute cell, 

 and that good or bad memory would consist in the greater or lesser power 

 of re-opening these cells and making use of their contents. If science be 

 competent to determine the point, she was not far from the truth. Mr. Smee 

 states : " When a man receives an impression, it is not evanescent, passing 

 immediately away, but it is retained in the system to regulate future actions. 

 Now, in voltaic constructions, it is not difficult to produce an action which 

 shall influence future motions, and thus exhibit the effects of memory. 



" If we take two iron wires, and place them in a solution of argento- 

 cyanide of potassium, and direct a voltaic current through them, silver 

 would be reduced at that wire constituting the negative pole. The two 

 wires would be ever afterwards in different electric relations to each other; 

 one would be positive, the other negative : and thus the effects of memory 

 would be shown, and future actions regulated." 



