[83 
XII. 
Thefc fpirltuons Liquors, (fays he) together with 
the Membranes of the Body, are the Inftrumcnts of 
Senfation alfo. For he concludes, that all the fen* 
file Membranes of every Part of the Body arife from 
the Meninges of the Brain ; and that they are all 
kept in a Kind of Tenlion, by thefe fpirituous Liquors 
palling conftantly thro' them. In this State of Ten- 
lion or Tone, he thinks that they may be compared 
to a Glafs, or Bell *, whofe Parts have a vibrating 
Motion communicated all over them, by being 
touch'd in One Part. Thus, (fays he) by the Inter- 
mediation of the Membrane of the Nerve that be- 
longs to any particular Organ of Senfe, or by means 
of the one common Membrane which involves the 
whole Body, every Objeft of Senfe is carried, as much 
as can be, by right Lines, to the Brain ; wherein the 
various and diftindt Motions of Obje&s are perceiv'd 
by the Soul. Hence this ingenious Author would 
endeavour to Ihew how, in a Paraly/ls , Senfation 
fhoutd remain when Motion is loft, and the contrary : 
For that if that Tone of the Membranes fhould at any 
time be totally, or in Part, deftroy'd, by either Change 
of Situation of their Particles, or by the Accefs of 
too much Moifture, or any Divifion of their Conti- 
nuity 
* There Teems but little Analogy between fuch vibrating 
Bodies and Membranes. It is, indeed, the Property of a Bell or 
Glafs to vibrate and found, when ftruck, provided it be pendulous, 
or otherwife free : But, if any Part be touch’d, its Vibration and 
Sound are impeded : How much lets is a moifi Membrane, in the 
Body, capable of Vibration ^ fince it is in clofe Contact with other 
Parts every-where ? 
