ON THE METHOD OF THE STUDY OF MIND.
Aspects of nature terrible to man in the infancy of thought; whence supersti-
tious feelings and fancies regarding nature. As these disappear metaphysical
entities are assigned as natural causes, and man deems himself the "measure
of the universe." Finally, the interrogation and interpretation of nature,
after the inductive method, begin; fruitful results of this method. Is the
inductive method, objectively applied, available for the study of Mind?
Difficulties in the way of such application. Development of biography, and
absence of any progress in metaphysics, are evidences of its value. Psychological
method of interrogating self-consciousness palpably inadequate; contradictory
results of its use, and impossibility of applying it inductively. Self-conscious-
ness unreliable in the information which it does give, and incompetent to give
any account of a large part of mental activity: gives no account of the mental
phenomena of the infant, of the uncultivated adult, and of the insane; no
account of the bodily conditions which underlie every mental manifestation ;
no account of the large field of unconscious mental action exhibited, not only
in the unconscious assimilation of impressions, but in the registration of ideas
and their associations, in their latent existence and influence when not active,
and in their recall into activity; and no account of the influence organically
exerted upon the brain by other organs of the body. Incompetency of self-
consciousness further displayed by examination of its real nature. Physiology
cannot any longer be ignored; henceforth necessary to associate the Physiolo
gion with the Psychological method; the former being really the more im-
rtant and fruitful method. The study of the plan of development of Mind,
the study of its forms of degeneration, the study of its progress and regress,
as exhibited in history, and the study of biography, should not be neglected.
The union of empirical and rational faculties, really advocated by Bacon as
his method, is strictly applicable to the investigation of mental as of other
natur phenomena. The question of relative value of inductive or deductive
reasoning often a question of the capacity of him who uses it; difference
between genius and mediocrity.—Conclusion
Page 1-40
MIND AND THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
cells the
result in
d forms;
The term "Mind" used in ferent senses: in its scientific sense a a natural
force and in its popul: sense as an abstraction made into a metaphysical
entity The brain certa y the organ of the Mind, and the nervo
ime ate agents of meal function. Mental power an organiz
the proper centres a meal organization. No nerve in lowest an
per epson of stimulus 1ng the direct physical effect in a homo cous sub-
The differentiatn of tissues in higher animals demais special
tur aus of intercommunication: the nervous system, at first very simple, sub-
serving this function. With increasing complexity of organization, a corre-
sponding complexity of the nervous system. Organs of special senses appear
in very rudimentary form at first; corresponding central nervous ganglia
constitute entire brain in Invertebrata. Rudiments of cerebral hemispheres
and rudimentary ideation in fishes. Convolution of the grey matter of the
hemispheres in the higher mammals, and corresponding increase of intelli-
gence in them. Differences in the size of the brain, and in the complexity of
its convolutions, in different races of men, and in different individuals of the
same race; corresponding differences in intellectual development. Human
embryonic development conforms with general plan of development of Verte-
brata. Discrimination of nervous centres: (a) primary, or Ideational; (b)
secondary, or Sensorial; (c) tertiary, or Reflex; (d) quaternary, or Organic.
The evidence of the different functions of these centres is anatomical, physio-
logical, experimental, and pathological. Lockhart Clarke on the structure
of the convolutions in man. Discriminating observation of mental phe-
nomena necessary, and metaphysical conception of Mind no longer tenable.
Mind the most dependent of all the natural forces; relations of mental force
in nature. Concluding remarks
Page 41-70
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THE SENSORY CENTRES AND SENSATION.
Collections of grey matter constituting the sensory ganglia intervene between the
spinal centres and the supreme hemispherical ganglia. Anatomical relations
of different grey nuclei yet uncertain, but nerve-fibres certainly connected with
their cells. Sensory ganglia with connected motor nuclei the centres of inde-
pendent reaction-of sensori-motor movements: examples. Sensations not
innate in man, but acquired by gradual formation; difference between him
and the animals in this regard. The idea of organization necessary to the
just interpretation of sensation; assimilation and differentiation. Association
of sensations. Sensori-motor act both irregular and co-ordinate; of co-
ordinate acts, some are primary automatic, others secondary automatic.
Persistence of sensori-motor acts in animals after the removal of their cerebral
hemispheres. Acquired sensori-motor acts constitute a great part of the daily
action of life; illustrations Psychological view of sensation at variance with
physiological facts. Subordination of the sensory centres to the cerebral
ganglia. Causes of disorder of the sensory ganglia: («) original defects;
(b) excessive stimulation; (c) quantity and quality of blood; (d) reflex irrita-
tion; (e) influence of cerebral hemispheres (?). Concluding remarks on the
analogy between the functions of the sensory centres and of the spinal
Page 90-122
THE SUPREME CEREBRAL CENTRES AND IDEATION.
Cortical cells of the hemispheres the centres of Ideation. No certain knowledge
of the functions of different convolutions. Cortical cells the centres of inde-
pendent reaction; of ideomotor movements, which may take place without
will and without consciousness: illustrations. Notion of innate idea unten-
able. Idea a gradual organization. Different signification of an idea according
to different states of culture. The so-called fundamental or universal in-
tuitions. Different modes of action of idea: (a) on movements, voluntary
and involuntary, conscious and unconscious; (b) on the sensory ganglia,-
physiologically, as a regular part of mental function; pathologically, in the
production of hallucinations; (c) on the functions of nutrition and secretion:
illustrations; (d) on other ideas: reflection or deliberation. Relation of
consciousness to Ideational activity. Comparison of ideas with movements in
regard to their association, their relation to consciousness, and the limited
power which the mind has over them. The character of the particular asso-
ciation of Ideas determined by (a) the individual nature, (b) special life-
experience. Need of an individual psychology. General laws of association
of ideas. Concluding remarks on the illustration of Von Baer's law of progress,
from the general to the special in development, afforded by the development
of ideas
Page 123-147
The will not a single, undecomposable faculty of uniform power, lut varies as its
cause varies: differs in quantity and quality, according to the preceding reflec-
tion. According to the common view of it, an abstraction is made into a
metaphysical entity. Self-consciousness reveals the particular state of mind
of the moment, but not the long series of causes on which it depends; hence
the opinion of free-will. Examples from madman, drunkari, &c.
design in the particular volition is a result of a gradually effected mental
organization: a physical necessity, not transcending or anticipating, but con-
forming with, experience. Erroneous notions as to the autocratic power of
will. Its actual power considered (1) over movements, and (2) over the
mental operations. 1. Over movements: (a) no power over the involuntary
movements essential to life; (b) no power to effect voluntary movements
until they have been acquired by practi; (c) cannot control the means, can
ly will the event. 2. Over mental o rations : (a) the formation of ideas,
and of their associations independent of (b) its impotency in the early stages
of mental development —in the young child and in the savage ; (e) cannot call
up a particular train of thought, or dismiss a train of thought, except through
Movements leave behind them residua in the motor centres, whence a repository
of latent or abstract movements. Motor residua or intuitions intervene be-
tween motive and act, and are related to conception on the reactive side as
sensation is on the receptive side. Actuation proposed for the psychological
designation of this department. Motor intuitions mostly innate in animals,
acquired in man. Illustrations from vision, speech, the phenomena of hypno-
tisin, paralysis, insanity, &c. Aphasia in its bearings on motor intuitions.
Muscular hallucinations. Co-ordinate convulsions. The muscular sense; its
relation to the motor intuitions, and the necessary part which it plays in
mental function. The will acts upon muscles indirectly through the motor
nervous centres. Orderly subordination of nervous centres in the expression
of the will in action. Natural differences between different persons, in the
power of expression, by speech or otherwise
Page 191-208
Concurrence of causes in the production of Insanity. Moral and physical causes
cannot be exactly discriminated. Predisposing causes: the influence of civili-
zation; over-population and the struggle for existe e; over-crowding and
insanitary conditions; eager pursuit of wealth, a I deterioration of the
moral natur; sex; education; religion; condition life; age and period of
life; heredry predisposition. Proximate causes of sorder of the ideational
centres:-( Original differences in constitution imperfectly developed
brains of the microcephalic type, (b) cretiuism, (e) ast of development by
disease, (d) the insane temperament, or neurosis spast dica; (2) Quantity and
quality of the blood-anemia and congestion; alcohol, pium, and other medi-
cinal substances, organic poison introduced from with it or bred in the body,
and defective development of the blood itself; (3) Red x irritation or patholo
gical sympathy-illustrations; (4) Excessive function. I activity—overwork.
Insanity of young children must be of a simple kind, the mental organization
being imperfect. Convulsions prove fatal at the earliest age: more or less
sensorial insanity associated witli them in some cases. Comparison of infantil.
insanity with the insanity of animals, and with epileptic fury. The organiza-
tion of sensory residua, and hallucinations of the senses: hallucinations not
uncommon in infancy; examples. Chorcic insanity and the phenomena of
somnambulism. Organization of idea. Incoherent conversation and fallacions
memory of children. Delusions. Resemblance between mania of children
and the delirium of adults. Hallucinations produced by morbid ideas. The
difference between fancy and imagination corresponds with the difference
between delirium and mania, Forms of insanity met with in children
grouped :—(1) Monomania, when there is a powerful impulse to some act of
violence; (2) Churrie mania-examples; (3) Cataleptoid insanity—illustra-
tions; (4) Epileptic insanity, preceding, taking the place of, or following, the
nsual convulsions-examples; (5) Mania; (6) Melancholia; (7) Affective
vasraity-Au) Instinctive or impulsive; perversions of the instinct of self-
conservation and the instinct for propagation, () Moral insanity-examples,
The insane child is a degenerate variety or morbid kind-never reverts to the
type of any animal : the roid degenerations of mankind are pathological speci-
Inents. Concluding remarks upon the seeming precocity of vice in some insane
chidren
Page 298-334
1 The caserne tempeccat-its characteristics. Eccentricity and insanity. The
relation of cer am kinds of talent to insanity displayed; also the wide differ-
eter between the Fighest genius and any kind of madness. The bodily and
mental charact rs of a strong hereditary predisposition. The different varieties
of mental dise is fall into two great divisions-Affective and Ideational,
2. Aff dire Is ally. (a) Terpulsice -the nature of it described and illus
tritel by exan is; enumeration of its causes and exposition of its frequent
Connexion with. alpy ; by Morul Iosanity -precedes the outbreak of other
forms of insite ty sometimes, and persists for a time after disappearance of
¤ lectual si rder; displayed chiefly in the degeneration of the social senti-
ments, exat, tau s. Vicious act, not roof of worl insanity; its connexion
with other for, is of menti derangen ent and with epilepsy. 3. Idea'iono!
sex Partial, in luding ronomania and chronic melancholia ;
da dracoal, ia luding mania and me, ancholia, chronic and aente, Modified
el-sification rental diseases. The nature, varieties, septoms, and com se
of partial nicationed insanity discussed and illustrated by examples. The
nature, vari t
4. I mentio, a
Chronic demot
de generation.
Xote on the l
mence of mor1..
changes: illust
chary of s*:
symptoms, and course of general
te and chropic, Causes of acute dem
; three groups of cases according to t
Gewral Paralysis--its causes, syID
cational insanity.
ia, and examples.
degree of mental
ins, and course,
ification of insanity. Note on the temature in insanity.
THE PATHOLOGY OF INSANITY.
*ppearances after death no proof of the
ions of abolition of nervous function
ure. 1. Summary of latest physiolo
time-rate of conduction; electro-motor
absence of morbid
'hont recognisable
al researches into
roperties of nerve,
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