1884.] On Catagenesis. 975 
far as we know, the instinct of hunger, which is at the foundation 
of animal being, is a state of consciousness in all animals. This, 
incontestible fact is overlooked by the materialists properly so- 
called, 
On the other hand, as consciousness is an attribute of matter, 
itis of course subject to the laws of necessity to which matter 
and energy conform. For instance, it cannot cause two solid 
bodies to occupy the same space at the same time, nor can it add 
one body to one body and thus make three bodies, No more 
can it make ten foot pounds of energy out of five foot pounds of 
energy, and it cannot abolish time more. than it can annihilate 
space. These are fundamental truths which are overlooked by a 
majority of mankind, Moreover, nothing is more common than 
to hear life or mind spoken of as though it of itself is a “sub- 
stance,” and not as it should be as an attribute or condition of 
substance or matter. 
What is then the immediate. action of consciousness in direct- 
ng energy into one channel rather than another? To take an, 
illustration : Why, from a purely mechanical point of view, is the 
adductor muscle of the right side of the horse’s. tail contracted 
to brush away the stinging fly from the. right side of the horse's: 
body rather than the left adductor muscle?» Why was the con- 
traction-provoking energy deflected in. to the right interspinal. 
Motor nerves rather than into those of the left side?) Why is the 
ar of the horse turned forwards to. catch the sound in front of 
him and backwards to gather the sound coming from behind ? 
The first crude thought is, that consciousness, supplies another 
‘nergy which turns aside the course of the energy required to, 
Produce the muscular. contraction; either as the man with the 
‘ein in his hand turns aside the. horse’s head, or as the shield he 
tids deflects a moving body. But consciousness, fer se, that is, 
garding. it in its, proper and distinctive definition, is not itself a 
force (~ energy), How then can it exercise energy? Certainly: 
Ro More than the bare goodwill of the train hands can pull the 
train. Such an explanation is to admit the possibility of making 
Something out of nothing, 
HI. Tue RETROGRADE METAMORPHOSIS OF ENERGY. 
Ae key to many weighty and mysterious phenomena lies in 
the planation of the so-called voluntary movements of animals. 
È say “so-called,” because true will is not at all involved in 
