ESSAY ON SUPERSTITION.

(Continued from p. 142.)

return from the digression with which my last communication terminated, I will now contemplate some of the extensive sympathies of the brain; and, first, with the heart.

1. It requires no argument to prove how easily palpitation of the heart may be produced; by sur prise, fear, joy, desire; and indeed by every kind of mental emotion, as well as by a variety of hypochondriacal or hysterical affections; and, on the contrary, we are conscious that this very palpitation disturbs the brain, interrupts the processes of thought, agitates the feelings, and introduces disorder and confusion into the mental manifestations.

The phenomena of fainting afford another instance of this double sympathy. It will often arise from mental emotion, producing such an effect upon the brain, that the due supply of nervous energy necessary for the continuance of the heart's function, is withheld from it: then it has not the power to contract, so as to send its regular quantity of blood to the brain; and, wanting this, a suspension of its action occurs, and absolute fainting is the consequence. The spirit is not CHRIST. OBSERV. No. 328.

affected, but its manifestation is suspended; and how is it to be restored? Not, surely, by reading lectures to that spiritual principle, on the necessity and importance of retaining or recovering its consciousness; but by the common physical processes of placing the patient in an horizontal position, so as to favour the return of blood to the head; and by stimulating the brain by the sudden application of cold sprinkled upon the face, by excitants applied to the different organs of sense, and by other similar operations. In suspended animation from another cause, all mental agency is gone, and the patient appears to be dead; yet by observing certain physical rules, vital action is restored; and after a time, the brainular functions are performed as before. Besides, it is a well-established fact, that disease of the heart is the frequent consequence of grief, and of other violent contentions of spirit. A proof of this is to be found in the greatly-increased frequency of diseases of the heart in France since the era of the Revolution. And what is all this, says an objector, but a simple instance of fainting, or, if you must have it so, of the extensive influence of the mind? But it is more: for it is a proof of the dependence of that mind, for the correctness and perfection of its

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manifestations, upon the integrity of the organ allotted by the Creator to its functions.

II. Another class of sympathies of the cerebral organ is with the blood.

It has been just shewn that the brain cannot continue its function without an adequate supply of blood. This probably acts in two ways; first, by the impression of its circulation; and secondly, by the vital principles which it contains. Chemists may analyze this fluid, and may tell us what are its constituent elements but they cannot produce from it bone, muscle, nerve, and the various organs and functions to which it gives rise. This can be accomplished only by a vital action, termed secretion; which cannot be perfected without the intervention of the brain. Now one purpose of the blood distributed to the cerebral organ is, to give it nourishment. But it receives a much greater quantity than can be required for this purpose, even after making a large allowance for its very high degree of vitality; and, indeed, this would again bring us round to the same point, since why is it endowed with a higher degree of vitality than other viscera? If, then, it do actually receive a much larger quantity of blood, this must be necessary for its nutrition; if this quantity be increased during the excitement of deep thought, close reading, or agitating emotion; and if its temporary absence, or rapid diminution, do occasion the complete abolition of sense, and intellectual and effective operations, what can we conclude, but that it is necessary-not indeed to the essence of the immortal spirit but to its corporeal manifestations?

Again: the blood received by the brain must be pure; it must have undergone its regular changes in passing through the lungs; other wise it will prove destructive to its physiological action, or will occasion disordered manifestations. Now, if the mere absence of the vital prin

ciples which it should contain, is thus injurious to the integrity and perfection of the cerebral function, much more will that function be injured, or even annihilated, if it be loaded with any deleterious substance or quality.

But again: the brain must obtain no more than its due proportion of this necessary fluid. For if it receive an excessive quantity, it will experience as material a disturbance to the energy of its functions, as in the instance of a defective supply: only the mode of producing this effect will be different. And even this very difference of manner, leading to the same ultimate result, is instructive; shewing how greatly the brain, and the manifestations of mind, are subjected to the agency of the same physical causes. For in the former state, there will supervene giddiness, head-ache, a sense of uneasy distension, drowsiness, heavy sleep, loss of energy, feebleness of the will, lethargy; and if morbid influence be not relieved, all the miserable symptoms of apoplexy, and a complete or partial abolition of sense and reason, together with the entire subversion of the integrity of intellectual manifestation: and in the latter, a variety of uneasy sensations, all indicating the feebleness of the brainular functions, and their partial or total temporary cessation, according as the abstraction of blood may have been more or less considerable. Further: the subsequent effect of any great loss of blood, is, that the convalescence of the patient is exceedingly slow: it is a long time before the brain can be commanded by the will, and before it can sustain much intellectual exertion; hence the subject of such a state will remain feeble, peevish, irritable, and oftentimes essentially altered in his character. Not, indeed, that ideas are elaborated from the blood, or that the function of the brain can be compared to any process of ordinary secretion: not that this fluid can impress upon the organ any facility of peculiar moral

or intellectual manifestation. The Almighty Fountain of wisdom has provided for these purposes a viscus, to which he has given the necessary wonderful structure, although we do not pretend to explain or comprehend the mode of its function; and this structure receives from the blood its peculiar pabulum; so that its actions may be increased, diminished, or modified; and finally, so that, under certain circumstances, the manifestations of mind may be perverted, or abolished-producing, in the former instance, the various forms of mental alienation and fatuity; and in the latter, fainting, and the several varieties of nervous affection, convulsions, apoplexy, and even death. Surely, then, it may be allowed, that an organ thus intimately dependent upon the blood for the integrity of its function, may, under the influence of certain morbid states of that fluid, exhibit many erroneous manifestations of mind.

III. Another sympathy of the brain is with the organs of respiration.

This intercommunion of suffering is maintained through the medium of nerves, which go to supply the muscles concerned in respiration, and of those which are received by the lungs themselves. If these nerves be divided, or so pressed upon as to intercept their communication with the brain, death, the stoppage of every intellectual and spiritual function, so far as developed through the material organ of the body, is the immediate consequence. But if this entire severance be attended with an instantly fatal result, the disruption of the union between body and mind, is it not a probable inference that a minor degree of violence, consisting in simple irritation of these nerves, must also disturb the source whence they are derived? Now every uneasiness, excess, or defect,—that is, every morbid action, is constituted an irritant to the organ so subjected to morbid influence. And, since the

forms of disease of the chest are various, is it otherwise than a legitimate inference, that the brain may be variously irritated, according to these peculiarities of disordered action? But if so, we may have several varieties of cerebral irritation arising from the disturbance of only one organ. Moreover, it is impossible to suppose that the brain can be irritated without suffering deeply in its intellectual functions. if these premises be granted, it is impossible to deny, or evade the conclusion, that these several forms of irritation may produce a coincident number of morbid cerebrat manifestations.

And

A little further consideration will shew how very intimately the lungs are associated with the brainular function; and if this be proved, the reflex action of the same influence cannot be denied. Let us only attend to some common circumstances of life, and quietly listen to their voice; let us look to the agency of emotion in quickening respiration; let us watch the tumultuous heavings of the bosom from the effect of simply listening to that which deeply interests the feelings; let us remember its convulsive agitations in the act of laughter from joy; let us listen to the automatic sigh of merely animal oppression, and contrast it with the deep expressive symbol of real grief as it bursts from the breaking heart of the mourner; let us appreciate the intense and involuntary earnestness with which we listen in breathless expectation, particularly under circumstances of fear; let us attend to the unwonted sob of mental agony, or of violentbodily suffering; and let us watchthe agitation produced by some forms of hysterical disease;-and then must we confess how closely and essentially the brain and the respiratory organs are linked together, and how interchangeably each must suffer from the irritation of the other. Besides, as has been already shewn, the brain requires a pure blood, to ensure the continuance of

its healthy functions; and in order to this, there must be a sound state of the lungs, and a pure atmosphere easily and freely inhaled; conditions of indispensable importance in order that the blood may not be imperfectly oxygenated; and that the brain may not suffer in consequence of that fluid's being deprived of its highest vital qualities. Therefore if the brain and its manifestations of mind be impaired by receiving a blood unsuitable for its purposes, how much more will it be perverted by the action of that fluid when impregnated with absolutely noxious particles?

IV. Sympathy of the brain with the stomach and alimentary canal.

I must next notice the connexion, and listen to the sympathies, existing between the brain and the stomach, together with the alimentary canal; and we shall here also find how completely the latter are dependent upon the former, and observe the consequent influence excited by any morbid cause of irritation existing within either.-In the first place, the stomach receives from the brain certain nerves, the integrity of which is indispensable to the performance of its function of digestion or alimentation. Destroy this communication, and the action of assimilation ceases: this at least proves the close connexion between the two organs, and will afford room for suspecting that any morbid change in a function so entirely dependent upon the brain, must reflect its irritating influence upon the source from which all power of healthy action is derived. But further the influence of prolonged study in diminishing the digestive power, and the gradual wasting of the flesh, and general exhaustion, which follow from a severe course of reading; the suspension of appetite, and the indigestion after eating, which arise from any sudden and considerable mental emotion; the destruction of the tone of the stomach, the chronic irritation, and even ulceration of its

coats, from the slow and invidious but certain effects of grief and disappointment, when suffered to prey upon the mind, without seeking for the consolations of religion: the nausea and disgust which, in some individuals, are produced by the sight or smell of certain articles, which have formerly proved injuri. ous to them, and which declare these senses to be appointed as faithful sentinels to the system, and to enable us at the same time to trace the limits of association between function and function: the absolute sickness which will sometimes result from the preceding state, and particularly from the idea of swallowing that for which we have a decided aversion; a similar effect sometimes produced from mere nervousness, that is, from mental emotion: the participation of the stomach in almost all the maladies with which the brain is directly, or indirectly, affected, and the expression of its uneasiness being sometimes the only symptom which would lead to a suspicion of irritation of the brain: the frequently severe disturbance of the stomach, called "sick head-ache," and which originates primarily from an affection of the brain; or from concussion or compression of that organ, or on recovery from fainting;-all shew how completely the former is under the influence of the latter, and betray the intimate sympathy between the two functions; which is still farther confirmed by the cerebral uneasiness and disorder in diseases of the stomach.

We may elucidate this state of morbid sympathy, by contemplating the rationale of some of its healthy functions. Hunger and thirst, for instance, and the desire of satisfying appetite, although frequently referred to the stomach, do not exist there; but are the results, when unsophisticated, of the wants of the system impressed upon the nerves of the stomach, and referred to the brain, in order that volition may be excited to satisfy those wants, and to preserve that system. When the

desire has been satisfied by taking food, a feeling of comfort will be diffused over all the animal machine,if the stomach has been moderately supplied; accompanied, how ever, with a degree of languor, and indisposition for intellectual exertion, and the desire of quiet in order that the cerebral system may be fully occupied with the important process of digestion, without the peculiar aid of which the powers of the stomach would ultimately fail. In many persons of weakly digestion, a disposition to drowsiness occurs; and the other functions of the system are not in activity, in order that all the nervous influence that can be spared may be concentrated upon the stomach. Where the meal has been moderate, all this passes without notice; but if the stomach shall have received more than it can conveniently digest, the attention of the nervous system is directed towards it, and the patient feels oppressed. And if this oppression be frequently repeated perhaps every day, and several times in the day-permanent feebleness of intellect will be the result; because the energies of the brain are accumulated upon the animal system, and cannot be afforded for its intellectual functions. Hence it is, that by experience, persons engaged in literary pursuits, in extending the field of their own intelligence, or in communicating knowledge to others, know and feel that a full diet is incompatible with intellectual activity. Moreover, many extraordinary affections of the brain occur during difficult digestion: nay, spectral illusions, and often nervous symptoms, which shew that that viscus is irritated; and that when irritated, there is no placing bounds to its actions. We must here also notice the effects produced upon this organ by various substances; and particularly by alcoholic fluids, tea, and coffee. As a very slight stimulant the former is sometimes recommended, even by medical advisers; but when the quantity is

considerable, the stomach suffers sooner or later; and, where a habit of drunkenness is continued, generally suffers irrecoverably. But it is with the effect upon the brain, and its manifestations of the mind, that we have chiefly to remark. In moderate doses, alcoholic fluids excite that organ gently, and stimulate the employment of its functions; a degree of hilarity is observable; a rapid flow of ideas; increased acumen in disputation; lively sallies of wit; and generally augmented powers;-but when the quantity taken has been larger, reason is suspended; it is absolutely drowned in some instances, perfect insanity is produced; in all, the senses become obtuse. The muscles refuse obedience to the will; the patient is unable to walk without staggering, or to speak without stammering; and in a more advanced stage of inebriety, the power of the brain is apparently lost; a deep heavy apoplectic slumber comes over the patient, from which, after a certain interval, he awakens, stupid, enfeebled, with head-ache, languor, debilitated moral and intellectual manifestations, depression of spirits, and the consequent anxiety for a renewed dose of this deadly stimulus. Disease, and perhaps suddenly fatal disease, frequently results from drunkenness ; and where this may not be the immediate consequence, the continuance of the habit gradually terminates in an enfeebled brain; the individual is reduced below the level of the brute animal creation; and his besotted intellect is more and more clouded, till he becomes. childish, fatuous, palsied, and lives out only half his days. There is, therefore, great danger in the habitual use of even slight alcoholic stimulants; for by custom a larger dose becomes necessary, as the excitability of the organs is lessened : till at length, what was taken perhaps at first with caution, and it may be with a view to health, becomes deeply injurious both to the mind