176 PHYSIOLOGY 



their variety of action, and the great variety of sounds that they are in 

 the habit of making themselves. The same thing may be observed of 

 all the other senses. 



Of the Effects of Sound upon Animals. 



The effects that sound has upon animals may be divided into two. 

 The first is simply sensitive ; [the second reflective. The first is] 

 when it affects the mind, and increases or diminishes the passions or 

 the operations of the mind and body. This is only by simple sounds, 

 varied in such a manner as to make the mind sympathize with, and, as 

 it were, imitate the sound itself ; by which means every part of the 

 body sympathizes therewith, and is, as it were, put into such motions 

 as are in unison or concord with the sound itself. It will not be an 

 easy matter to account for this universal effect of sound upon the 

 body, excepting it be in this way, that every part of the body is a 

 conductor of sound, and of course is affected by it ; and therefore the 

 body is more ready to sympathize with the mind, or is more ready to 

 receive the impressions of the mind, than if it had not that immediate 

 connexion with sound. 



Sounds having this universal effect upon the minds and bodies of 

 animals can only be determined to some fixed object or idea ; for, the 

 moment it goes further in the mind than the immediate effect of the 

 sound, it becomes a compound [idea] which the brute does not readily 

 perform. It always raises in the human mind some fixed and deter- 

 mined passion, which may be called its ' first combination ; ' and then, 

 again, that passion is directed to some object for which it has the 

 easiest or greatest inclination. For instance, it will raise strange com- 

 motions in the animal system, plant the seeds of love or the suscepti- 

 bility for love ; and, if that man is already in love, these sounds will 

 raise the passions in the mind which only wants the absolute object to 

 fix or determine it ; which [object] will be brought immediately into 

 the mind, and will even increase the passion at the time in proportion 

 to the simple effect it has upon the mind. 



If a man has a turn for war, for conquest, &c, there are certain 

 sounds that will raise him above himself, and make him feel irresistible ; 

 which will be determined to some fixed or general objects, just as his 

 mind happens to be pre-engaged. 



Nothing shows the effects of sound upon the body more than music. 

 No man would be inclined to dance without music : the music also 

 determines the kind of dance. Music is universal ; the mind imme- 

 diately feels its effects, and has recourse to it, as much as the body 

 for food. 



When we say that we are conscious of a thing, it implies two things, 



