1156 The Relations of Mind and Matter. [December, 
the material mass had become disintegrated, and might continue 
to exist as a molecule or mass of a constitution much more rare 
than that of matter. 
Possibly this power of becoming independent does not exist in 
the case of atomic or molecular atmospheres of bound ether. 
But it may do so in the case of the bound ether of more devel- 
oped compounds. We may look upon the crystal, the plant, the 
animal, even on the body of man as possessing, in addition to the 
free ether that readily permeates them, a mass of condensed or 
bound ether which reproduces every detail of their organization 
and every specialty of their motion, from that of each atom to 
that of the organism asa whole. In sucha case the cerebrum 
might possess such an ethereal atmosphere, not only reproducing 
it in organization, but affected in its motor relations by every im- 
pulse received from without which is not consumed as muscular 
motion. There are certain good reasons for believing that such 
a psychic substance exists, intermediate in condition between 
matter and ether, and sending out vibratory energy like that of 
matter. This psychic substance yields no energies which can 
affect matter at a distance, and it is not affected by the emitted 
energies of distant matter. It can affect matter and be affected by 
it only while an intimate connection exists, like that between the 
cerebrum and its psychic atmosphere, and only through the 
agency of this connection. In this relation the psychic substance 
assumes the general motor conditions of the cerebrum, with which 
it is so intimately associated, and is also sensitive to special motor 
conditions coming from distant matter. It is, therefore, organized 
by the conditions of energy in the material universe. It, in 
addition, gains special motions through its own interactions, 
and impresses these upon the universe. As compared with 
matter its substance is excessively rare and its motions exces- 
v sively rapid. Its mobility is therefore extreme, and its sus- 
_ceptibility to new influences far beyond anything existing in mat- 
ter. Finally it may be capable of retaining its organization sepa- 
rate from matter, its constitution being such that the disrupting 
_ energies which destroy the organization of matter are powerless 
to affect the psychic organism, they being repelled from its sur- 
ice, Or passing through it as innocuous vibrations. Under some 
conditions, and such only, can we comprehend the existence 
mss = nda And thus only can we conceive the 
