Hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1843-1845, 1844-02-29
No. 40.

! permeating it, and conveying sensatioa T.
tho nerves Of the brain as the undulati ons al
tue "lno convey motion TO the leavas u
the trees. The mind which receives an
understands these sensations. Must ,ta-r
, fore exist an the same huid in which 10
nerves act; for the same medium which roa
veys sensations from without to the neyys4
OF the brain by it's undulations, must neces
) sarily be continued through the nerves, Ia
communicate these sensations TO the mind
The MIND, therefore, receives all its i'm pres.
sions by fluid which the nerves set in no.
ton; that is, its communion ton with the
brain and the nerves, is carried on by tho
medium of a fluid. intangible. invisible, aud
so subtle as to constitute tho link that
unites the material with the immaterial
matter with spirit!
II the MlND-that invisible, spiritual,
sentient, which ,cills-is intellectivs thro'
the nerves BY means Of the nerves of the
brain agitated from without, setting in mo.
ton fluid the vibrations of which termi.
nate in the mind, it also must convey its
own intelligent, independent workings by
the same subtle medium to tho brain. Let
US be understood. If an island can receive
its importations only by medium Of the sea.
it must export by tho same medium. If
the mind receive its series Of knowlcdccs Of
external things by medium Of a fluid, IL
must emanate itself by the same medium
! does if< L.
vibrations OF such fluid, is philosophically
true: that it conveys them By tho vibra tons
OF the same fluid to the parts Of the body it
would move by the media of the organs Of
the brain which are marshalled like cour-
iers around it, remains to be proven. The
deduction Of reason aud the differences Of
analogy would lead US to believe that it
does: and il will be readily admitted that
whatsoever science furnishes proof of this,
VIII be sound and important one. Mea.
merism alone has furnished these proofs:
and as lis claim to rank with tile science,
rests upon the existence and action Of SUCH
mud, II 1t does not exist her prstensiona
.all to the ground. Without such a fluid.
medium assumed to be do not exist, then is
nervic magnetism a most singular dclrsion:
butif it do exist, mesmerism has establish.
ed itself among the first discoveries of the
age, and given key to unlock the u,yrtic
union of mind and matter.
Mesmerism proves, we have said, the ex-
stcnce of this subtle Aud Of tho brain;
but if ice are asked to prove it, we reply
that mesmeriBm proves it not to ms, that is IL
not susceptible of proof, except by nicsms.
rism. The philosopher will understand our
meaning. He and the general reader must
be willing to admit that the fluid exists Till
its existence be proved to him by the kind
of testimony mesmersm itself will Offer
The brain, then, is charged with subtle
fluid. so fine and delicate us to be agitated
by the motion of thought in tho mind.
which, as it were, floats in ia spirit in
ether. This auid is the highest link in
material essences, and the lowest in spirit.
ual; so that it is easily influenced by the vi.
brations coming from matter on the one
hand. and the motions of mind and sp.it OIL
the other. 1t is this medium by whieh tho
mind of mar holds its Union with his body
the bond whereby spirit is welded to mat,Gr.
The first and highest matter with which the
incorporate mind comes in contact, is the
nerve of the brain. which it excitcs, not by
direct contact, but by the Intervention of
the fluid medium OF sensation, which we
have described. These nerves, or organs Of
pass from the brain to all parts
O: the body. An act of the will sets them
in motion. 1t is tho will, therefore, that
moves matter The will, for instance,
,cius that the eye.lids should close. How
is the effect produced, inasmuch as the will
has no command over the muscles indepcn.
dent of the media Of the nerves and their
intermediate fluid7 We answer: the motion
9f thought agitates the fluid; the nerves catch
The vibrations, conveying them with the
exertcd effort of the will to
The nerves Of the eye.lid. The energy OF
will the nerves have thus conveyed in the
fluid, lifts the muscles and produces the ef-
feet intended by the will. Thus is finger
10 be moved. an arm to be raised the leg
10 be advanced! the whole body to be set
in motion The will to produce these Of.
fects by its own motion to act, agitates the
medium fluid; the undulatons are cornmu.
iicated to the nerves; and along them with
lie rapidity OF thought TOR it is nothing
Use, to the part desired to be acted upon,
md the effect is simultaneous with the viii.
The nerves then conduct the fluid with
which the will comes in contact, and con
convey portion OF tho will: Torso
ong as the fluid acts, the m. nd must act In
and through it. The nerves, therefore,
ire no part Of the muscular machinery Tor
moving positions of the body, bat eondvs
-ors Of the will to the parts, which. by -
energy are put in motion. Consequent