THE BRAIN AND SIMULATION. (Wine Dealer's Gazette—San Francisco Paper.)

Waikato Times, Volume V, Issue 305, 25 April 1874, Page 2

THE BRAIN AND SIMULATION. (Wine Dealer's Gazette— San Francisco Paper.)

Tjik question diseu«sed from the tune of -\ristotle — und perhaps befote — whither the brain bean orj;an, with functional nets to ptrform, has been finally settled bj the scientific physiologists of the present c ntury in the affirmative. Tlio most distinguished scientist who has discussed this subject is 11. Claude Bernard, Professor of Physiology in theCollojjo of France. In a recent publication lie lays down the following general principles, from which experiments properly contrived nnd curried out, denionsttato that there is no logical escape. I Ist. That in anatomical development the brain follows the general law of human physiology — that it increases in Tolunie whenever the function that it controls increases in energy. Tlio brain gains on dt wlopmcnt in proportion to tlie gi eater manifestation of intelligence ; and in men, with whom tho phenomena of mind lm\o i cached their highest expression, the ceicbral organ presmts the largest volume. 2nd. The intelligences of tho whole animal creution can be readily inferred from tho shape of tho brain, and the number of creases or folds that extern! its surface. 3rd. The inner btructurc of the braiu presents a compWitv that increases with the variety and intensity of the mental mnnifretntion*. ' 4th. The anatomical elements that nmko up the brain arts ! ncMi- elements, in the ahapo of tubes and of cell*, variously ) joiiitd nii'l interlaced. I sth. When a diminished supply of blood flows to any i or}* in — the brain included — itsur'lnity of function decline.-., | and the organ rests; and if tlio blood is quite cut oh" the , elementary properties of tho tissue slowly changes, and at i tho same time its functions perishes. j 6th. The increased flow of tho sanguineous fluid corresI ponds with greater intensity in the chemical alterations I going on within tho tissues, and also with an exaltation in I the phenomena, connected with heal, which aie their necesI sary and immediate consequence. 7th. Hence the brain is the organ of intelligence, in exactly the same way that the heart is the organ ot circulation, and the larynx that of the voice. Modern physiology dissipates forever the idea that the I human mind in any of its dcpaitmonts, can exist independent of themateri.il body — of the organ that secretes thought, memory, iinuf>:nntion, judgment — the human brain, ill short; for the function of the brain is intelligence This demonstration of modern scionce must not be understood as in any way affecting the spiritual nature of man. I Science deals only with physical facts, religion with tho soul. Now, what has nil this to do with stimulation will probably be demanded by the editor of tho Sacramento Jteuue, and other bigoted iiliots. Wo reply, everything. If the beating of tho heart can be increased by specifies, or diminished at will ; if anaesthetics destroy conscientiousness and doprckf sensibility, whilst they leave the power of muscular movement un'ouclied ; and of cours*, on the other hand, deatioys the power of movemeul, but leaves sensibility and will unimpaired, it follows that menial power can bo temporarily exalted or depressed by the administration of certain medicines, whose eflicacy has been fully demonstrated by experiment. It has been proved bj the experience of three thousand years that alcohol, in moderate quantities, affects tho human brain, by sending a fresh supply of blood to that organ, and, consequently, augmenting its energy and developing its latent power. ('ufftMiieiiiid Thorne — the ultimate essences of col Tec and ( t>a — affect the brain in the same miinner, but of course in a diminished degree. Tliecc common elements have also run tho gauntlet ot lgnoraut opinion; and it m only of recent ' a ears that both have been redeemed from the odium of I bigotry, and their utility OdUblished upon a linn foundation. I Tobacco is undergoing tlio same ordeal ; but it does not t lequhc fie presumco oi u prophet to fines i.c Hut the de-

mauds of the human constitution for nicotine, in temperate q lantities, as proved by tlie experience of tin* civilized world, troin the ttino of Sir W.iiter Raleigh to the present, U a n-itur.il wnnt, and tend, in a large mojorif v of cases, to benefit uuil improve the race. What million* of the best andwi»e«t, as well as the most ignorant and viciou« >>! human kind are iloing, and have for generations been doing, i» of itself an argument for the use of tobacco, that no iimoant of falw reasoning, shallow morality, and quack lenrning, can succewfully overcome. • Tob icco ii as much a necessity for the stomach and brwn, and nerves of the human organism, as food of any othefc kind. And so, too, with stimulants, when moderately mod. It is idle to argue from the abuse of a thing, against it§ use. Religion, as, for instance, Penman sacrifices of maidens ; law, as, for instance, tlv> acquittal of the Credit- Mobiliers ; justice, as. for instance, iln eecpa of notod assassins in our midst, might h <? all condemned as wone than useless, if we were <,o>ermd by particular cases. And so with r^a'd to the use of stimulants, and even of food. Became A died a drunkard, or B expires from a gluttinoui debnuch establishes no urgum-nt against the use of food or drink. Tv« grctit mass of mankind still continue to feed when hungry, and t) drink when thirsty, in spite of the folly of those who misuse tho gift of Providence, and convert a blessing into a curso. Tnousands of men havo lived and died in obscurity, poverty, and ignominy, who, if aware of the true function of the brain, and the methods of developing its latent j)O v ors, would have risen to wealth and fame, and left behind them names of which tho world would have been proud. Thousands of others have lingered m agonj and died of disease, who, had they been intelligently advised, would, by the temperate use of alcoholic beverages, hare perfectly recorered their health, and lived to a green old age iia tho possession of all their physical and mental powers ; whilst other thousands havo crept through the low vales of life, subdued by a false bashfalness into mediocrity, whose native genius only required tho torch of a roaring spree to emancipate their souls from thraldom, and kindle the flamo of eloquence, poetry, or song. " A d ay, nn hour of virtuous liberty, Is worth a whole eternity of bondage," surely, a moderately long life, illumined by the blaze of a glorious intellect, fed if \ou please, on the phosphoric firesof stunulatiQn, is far moio desirable than th« degradation of constitutional dulness, although prolonged to tho age of Methuselah. _^^__^____^________