554 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



soul does not receive impressions from all parts of the body, but only 

 from the brain." This truth, which now seems so elementary, was 

 nevertheless demonstrated only by the physiology of recent times. 

 The greatest physiological theorist of the passions, Bichat, did not 

 accept it, as we shall see from an exposition of his doctrine. 



The first physiological character recognized in the passions, by 

 Bichat, is intermittency. Whereas our thoughts may be continued — 

 prolonged over a considerable period of time — and whereas a habit of 

 making the same reflections and judgments strengthens and perfects 

 them, the passions, on the other hand, have no persistence. With the 

 exception of that pleasure and pain which we might denominate abso- 

 lute, and which depend on direct nerve-excitation, it may be asserted 

 that a habit of the same sentiments will soon blunt and weaken them. 

 A prolonged sensation, be it pleasant or painful, at last gives neither 

 pleasure nor pain. The perfumer, who is ever surrounded by an odor- 

 ous atmosphere, does not enjoy the sweet scents. All that delights the 

 eye or charms the ear becomes indifferent when the impression has 

 lasted for some time. The same holds good for disagreeable sensa- 

 tions. " Happiness, therefore," says Bichat, " consists only in incon- 

 tinuousness. Pleasure is but a comparative sentiment, that ceases to 

 exist where you have uniformity between present and past sensations. 

 Were the forms of all women cast in one mould, that mould were the 

 grave of love." 



This profound difference between thought and passion Bichat ex- 

 plains by the theory that the former is dependent on that side of our 

 being which we call animal life, while the latter proceeds from the 

 organic life. Every thing that has to do with intellectual opera- 

 tions, properly so called, has its seat in the brain, which is the 

 centre of animal life. Every thing that has to do with the passional 

 states has its seat in the viscera. The effect of passion of every kind 

 is to produce some change, some alteration in the organic life, that is 

 to say, in the organs of circulation, of respiration, and of nutrition. 

 This fundamental difference between intelligence and passion, as re- 

 gards the organs which seem to be their respective seats, has long 

 been remarked by popular sagacity and incorporated into language. 

 Such expressions as " a good head," " a fine-shaped head," have al- 

 ways been employed to express perfection of understanding ; and " a 

 good heart," " a tender heart," to express the perfection of sentiment. 

 It has also been a current phrase to say that the blood " boils " with 

 anger, or that indignation " moves " the bile, or that the heart " leaps " 

 with joy. Our gestures accord with our words : thus, when we would 

 in dumb show indicate some state having to do with memory, imagi- 

 nation, perception, or judgment, we bring the hand up to the head. 

 But, when we would express love, joy, hate, disgust, we bring the 

 hand up to the region of the heart or of the stomach. 



A close observation of facts proves the correctness of the instincts 



