Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-08-13

matter hin certain sphere-wthin the body and for
certain distance around II
We never could understand how it is that all physioo
sts take il for granted that when the mind receives
impression something is propagated along the to II
from the periphery That any such propagation Of a
fluid nervous influence, any thing else does really
take place has been proved and yet such ocomo
ton Of an imaginary principle is universally assumed
fixed and unquesonable fact and made the basis Of
the prevailing theory Of the nervous system.
Professor Ehrenberg of Berlin instituted in 1886
e Of mcroscopcal observations the structure of the
nervous system and in his elaborate paper the subject
read before the Academy of Sciences of Berlin he
fesses that his observations living nerves did
hibit the circulation of fluid in them; and he
accordingly did not declare either or against the doc
trine Of a circulation
In regard to the materialisc tendencies of Mr.. Eve
leth sTiews, will say few words in conclusion Mr.
Eveeth has unfortunately fallen into nearly all of the
strange sas and ologies of the day He is believer if
we understand him, n--1. Mesmerism 2. Cairvoyance
g. spirituasm. A. Spiritual rappings; and s. The or-
gin of ideas in material changes. All of these would
infer from his last articles. We have made expert
ments in table moving and spiritual rappngs sufficient to
be convinced ourselves Of their utter utty and had
thought that the late demonstrations of Professors Fara
day and Page sufficient to set the matter at rest
But we perceive that Mr. Eveleh, with pcrtinacy and
zeal worthy of better cause, still holds out and main
tans that the spirualists in their accounting for the
rappngs have bad the best Of the argument thus far
In regard to the origin of ideas in material changes
Mr.. Eyeeth seems to have shifted his ground. In his
previous article Of the 10Th Of June he says: ~
ategiaP ''mantain that intellectual operations do
arise in material changes" lie says " If my opin-
ion that idea of the form and color of flower is OBJ
tanned through the action of matter in its connexion with
the ethereal substance whatever else it may be term
ed makes me materiast, then am one" These two
statements are entirely different And he still continues
quote Prof Draper suggesting the materiaisc po-
son which have quoted above from his article OF the
10th ofJune He evidently misundersand Prof Draper
His last quotation from him does not at all suggest the
idea that intellectual operations do arise in material
changes He simply suggests that every motion must
be accompanied by, and indeed originate in chemical
changes occurring in the nervous machinery This may
be true but this is very different thing from saying
that atectaaI operations do arise in material changes
The intellectual operations entirely anterior to and
independent of all motions in the body Indeed all the
motions of the body dependant on the intellectual
operations
we do not at al admit that there must necessarily be
chemical changes either anterior subsequent to any
intellectual operation whatever There is tendency at
the present day among certain school of Psychologists
very few in number make all mental phenomena mere
products of chcmistry and they are doubtless looking
forward to the day when thinking will become mere
matter of crucb!es and alembics when like Albertus
Magnus and other old achemsts they will be able to ma
nuacure for the market verabe of brass bronze
capable of thinking and moving, from the chemical
changes that going in certain chemical mixture
of various ingredients introduced from time TO time into
their brazen crania.
Allow to conclude, Messrs. Editors, by expressing
NJ. Tel uba tlpna IF
viii consrue nothing in this article dictated by an un
friendly spirit; and that may continue to discuss ques
tons of science with the view of ecitg truth and fer
the sake of science alone.
ALBERT WELLES ELY.
WAsHIsoToY AUGUST G, 1858.