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    NOVELS FOE, NOVEL READERS Constance Tyrr...

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    Todd And Bowman's Physiology. The Physio...

    Fahrenheit ; but sometimes , when the exertion has been continued for five minutes ( as the biceps of the arm , in sawing a piece of wood ) , it has been double that amount . This development of heat may be in a great measure attributable to , and even a necessary consequence of , the friction just alluded to . " The idea of soft moist semi-liquid fibres producing this heat by friction is one that we confess astounded us , coming from such writers . We were less surprised at finding them fall into the old routine of separating mind from the brain , and making it an independent existence , because they bring the authority of " Revealed Truth" into the field—ah authority which , in matters of science especially , is most unhappy . Their treatment of this subject , however , is such as we observe in a large class of orthodox writers : their facts and arguments all go one way , their conclusions another . No positive Biologist would desire a more specific st atement than this : —

    " From these premises it may be laid down as a just conclusion , that the convolutions of the brain are the centre of intellectual action , or , more strictly , that this centre consists in that vast sheet of vesicular matter which crowns the convoluted surface of the hemispheres . This surface is connected with the centres of volition and sensation ( corpora striata and optic thalami ) , and is capable at once of being excited by , or of exciting them . Every idea of the mind is associated with a corresponding change in some part or parts of this vesicular surf ewe ; and , as local changes of nutrition in the expansions of the nerves of pure sense may give rise to subjective sensations of vision or hearing , so derangements of nutrition in the vesicular matter of _tliis surface may occasion analogous phenomena of thought , the rapid development of ideas , which , being ill-regulated or not at all directed by the will , assume the form of delirious raving . " Elsewhere it is said : —

    " Although the workings of the mind are doubtless independent of the body , experience convinces us that in those combinations of thought which take place in the exercise of the intellect , the nervous force is called into play in many a devious track throughout the intricate structure of the brain . How else can we explain the bodily exhaustion which mental labour induces ? The brain often gives way , like an overwrought machine , under the long-sustained exercise of a vigorous intellectual effort ; and many a master mind of the present or a former age has , from this cause , ended his days ' a driveller and a show / A frequent indication of commencing disease in the brain , is the difficulty which the individual feels in ' collecting his thoughts , ' the loss of the power of combining his ideas , or impairment

    of memory . How many might have been saved from an early grave or the madhouse , had they taken in good time the warning of impending danger which such symptoms afford ! The delicate mechanism of the brain cannot bear up long against the incessant wear and tear to which men of great intellectual powers expose it , without frequent and prolonged periods of repose . The precocious exercise of the intellect in childhood is frequently prejudicial to its acquiring vigour in manhood , for the too early employment of the brain impairs its organization , and favours the development of disease . Emotion , when suddenly or strongly excited or unduly prolonged , is mast destructive to the proper texture of the brain , and to the operations of the mind "

    The quiet assumption of the opening sentence about the independence of the mind , is made with reference , w e presume , to " Revealed Trutb ;" and if the rest of the passage flatly contradicts it , " so much the worse for the facts . " Logic is not the forte of these writers , aa we may note in the following extraordinary passage : " The nature of the connexion between the mind and nervous matter has ever been , and must continue to be , the deepest mystery in physiology ; and they who study the laws of Nature , as ordinances of God , will regard it as one of those secrets of his counsels ' which angels desire to look into . ' The individual experience of every thoughtful person , in addition to the inferences deducible from revealed Truth , affords convincing evidence that the mind can work apart from matter , and we have many proofs to show that the neglect of mental cultivation may lead to an impaired state of cerebral nutrition ; or , on the other hand , that

    diseased action of the brain may injure or destroy tbe powers of the mind . These are fundamental truths of vast importance to the student of mental pathology as well as of physiology . It may be readily understood that mental and physical development should go hand in hand together , and mutually assist each otber ; but we are not , therefore , authorized to conclude that mental action results from the physical working of the brain . The strings of tbe harp , set in motion by n skilful performer , will produce harmonious music if they have ; been previously duly attuned . But if tbe instrument be out of order , although the player strike the siuiie notes , and evince equal skill in the movements of his lingers , nothing but the harshest discord will ensue . Ah , then , sweet melody results from skilful playing on a well-tuned instrument of good construction , so a sound mind , and a brain of good development and quality , are the necessary conditions of healthy and vigorous mental action . "

    I he individual experience of every thoughtful person affords . _convincing evidence of mind working apart from matter , we are told . But ; where is the evidence H Who ever witnessed the phenomena of thought when no nervous matter was present P Name your authority ( we decline ** Revealed . truth" ) , give a single instance , give a single argument . All we know of nnnd is in connexion with a living brain . Give us an instance of u brainless mind , and we will thankfully acknowledge it . Rut the logic of what follows is peculiar . We are fold that there is evidence , apart from Revealed Truth , of the independent existence of fhe mind , " and we , have many proofs to show that the neglect of mental cultivation may lead fo an impaired state of cerebral nutrition . " This and , is very noticeable . So , indeed , is the whole passage . The more clearl y to expose its _1 ' aJla . cy we call attention to this exact _parallel _.

    I hat Strength bits an existence independent of mere matter , will bo evident to the experience of every thoughtful person , though Revealed truth is silent on tho point ; and we have innumerable proofs tin tt neglect of the exercise of this Strength leads to an impaired state of muscular nutritiou ; so that a man who does not employ his strength will be found to have small and flaccid muscles ; while , on the otber hand , as a further proof that Strength is independent of muscular fibre , any disease of the muscular fibre will derange or totally destroy the powers of tbe muscle . At is true that physical Strength and wwc _\ _iW development go hand iu

    Todd And Bowman's Physiology. The Physio...

    hand , but we are not to conclude that Strength results from the physical action of the muscles ! We have formerly shown that mental phenomena are the peculiar phenomena of nervous tissue , as muscular actions are of muscular tissue , and we refer hesitating readers to that exposition , especially those who may conclude from what has just been said that we are " materialists . " ( No . 124 , p . 762 . ) Having made these objections , let us cordially commend the excellencies of this work : these are , great clearness and minuteness of exposition , exhaustive erudition of what has been done by previous writers , great care in the examination of dubious evidence , impartiality in stating conflicting views , candour , and , above all , valuable original matter . Mr .

    Bowman is a first rate microscopist ; and this work bears ample testimony to the original observation and experiment of the authors . High praise this , and deserved . If the work do not exhibit great philosophic merit , it exhibits such practical excellencies , that no student should be without it . The chapter on the tissues , though very deficient in philosophic grasp , is valuable for the minuteness of its details ; the chapters on Innervation are also eminently useful , especially that on the reflex action of the nerves . Indeed , the importance and space given to the nervous system in this work entitle it to be considered in the light of a monograph . On the completion of the work we may return to it , and examine its chapters on vegetative life , for which space at present fails us . The illustrations also deserve a word of praise : they are very numerous , many quite new , and all admirably engraved .

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    Novels Foe, Novel Readers Constance Tyrr...

    NOVELS FOE , NOVEL READERS Constance Tyrrell j or , the Half Sister . By P . H . Pepys , Esq . 3 vols . Bentley . The Heir of Sherborne ; or , the Attainder . 3 vols . Bentley . In enjoyment of a readable novel "we yield to none , " as the elegant writers say when they "fearlessly assert" their extremely harmless opinions . But the novel must be readable , and " there ' s the rub" ( to use an elegant and unfamiliar quotation ) . So few novels are readable , after one has had a certain experience of circulating libraries . It is pleasant enough at first : the youthful mind has profound faith in the Reginalds and Claras ; ignorance of the world lends a willing ear to the conversations which novelists liberally employ ; and an ardent imagination believes in the probability and practicability of all the " adventures . " But the illusion vanishes . Experience comes to teach us that life is supremely unlike the circulating library ; and the very abundance of the

    circulating library painfully teaches us t _& at it is very like itself , so that after awhile we know exactly what turn the story will take , what the villain will do , what the wronged but haughty beauty will say , what misery the lovers will finally emerge from into festal joy , and wdiat escapes will diversify the " adventures . " Had we never read more than a dozen novels we should eagerly " devour " Sherborne ; or , the Attainder , an historical novel of the most approved type , but owing to the cause just hinted we found it totally impossible to get through more than the first volume . The author will rebel , no doubt , at this the critic ' s " unfairness . " But after all , is not that unreadability sufficient criticism ? We asked nothing better than to accompany him gaily to the end of his third volume ; but it is not our fault . You cannot induce the pastrycook ' s boy to dine off raspberry puffs ; he has had his surfeit long ago , and would prefer a little plain bread and cheese .

    Then , as to Constance Tyrrell , we remember the day when such a novel would have been wept over , when Reginald Mowbray would have been the secret ideal and Constance the avowed idol of our " imaginings " ( whatever that may be ) ; but , alas , the day ! we cannot command sufficient naivete and credulity now , and . vthis novel , like so many others , we put down unfinished—a _ipui lafaute ' l To those whose appetite is stronger , and whose experience of novels is more limited , we may recommend these two books ; they are neither better nor worse than hundreds of others , but to us possess the incurable sin of not being real ; they are like no life but that which moves through

    three volumes or five acts—the library and the stage . All tho characters remind us of the " characters" of the celebrated Mr . Marks— " One penny plain , twopence coloured , " which characters also were the glory of our 3 outhful days ! Apropos of youth , Mr . Pepys must be a very young man , or he would never have fallen into that novelist ' s error of calling Mason old at forty . Think of a man being necessarily excluded from a girl ' s alfections because lie is forty—what immense ignorance ! It is , however , the conventional belief of the circulating library , where a man after _five-and-twenty , and without black moustache and raven ringlets , has a feeble position . Ami see what comes of being forty and proposing to one ' s cousin ! Here is a serious man seriously declaring his love , and

    "Ibe only reply vouchsafed to him , however , was a loud burst of ringing laughter that made the very walls resound again . Mason started to bis feet , and paced up and down the room , his blood boiling at tbe insult , but his usual selfcommand still enabling him to preserve outward composure , that no hurst , of irritation on bis part might contribute ; to the downfal of his hopes , which now seemed ho momently impending . He bit , bis lips almost through , and waited impatiently till Constance _shouljl recover from ber fit of laughter , and give him some definite reply . This , however , she did not , seem to find it easy to do ; one paroxysm succeeded another till ber eyes were running over with _lears , and sheer exhaustion at length brought , the fit ton conclusion . The indignant aspect of Mason's countenance , as he paced up and down tbe room , servedonly to add to ber amusement , and she seemed on the point , of indulging in another outburst , when she checked herself , and said :

    "' 1 really beg your pardon , James , for receiving your serious proposal with such ill-timed hilarity ; hut , I assure you , it was too much for inc . I could not resist ,. Why , my dear , fond , venerable cousin , what could possibly have possessed you to think that you were endowed with qualities likely to captivate a gay young thing like me , or to believe tbat I was likely to make u suitable wife for you ? But 1 cannot believe you were serious : you wanted to see how I should behave when you went through the solemn furce of making mo a formal proposal . In that case , 1 _liopo you arc us much gratified as J have been at tho _micccwful manner iu which

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 11, 1852, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11091852/page/19/