New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-06
COsluCAL CONDITIONS OF MENTAL ACTION.
LECTURE BY PROF. YOUMANs.

Prof. l.. l.. YOumans delivered a new and in
terestug lecture tho Ccsmical Condition, Of Men
tai Action" before the NewYork Society of Mechanics
and Tradcmcn at steinway Hail. last evening The lee
ture was illustrated prcflsey with drawings and maps
ana listened TO with close attention by the large au
d.ence. A. f. ochershausen, President OF the Society
introduced the speaker, who said
Toward the close Of the last century there resided in
birmingham, England, clergyman remarkable for his
devotion both to theology and 70 science He witnessed
the outbreak OF the French Revolution, and in 1871
preached sermon concentrating its anniversary The
populace disagreed with him in opinion, and expressed
their disgust by entering his house. destroying BIS APP
pBratIs library, and manuscripts, and burning his
dwelling and meeting house. He escaped from the town
In Disguise and three four years later hunted out
OF England and came to this country to die. You viii UNI
deIetand that referring TO Dr. Joseph Presty, the
immortal dscovercr Of oxygen gas. or the properties
this wonderful agent Of Nature need not here speak
but desire recall 10 your attention its Office In the
that We acGlnted with the earihs crust down about
% miles and as far know onehalt OF the weight
ocean three fourtbs of the animal kingdom, and four
fhs OF the entire vegetable world also consist OF IT, 10
todan OF natures material resources and destined TO
reduce them from chaos 10 the sod order OF the world,
and that when il hal performed its office by burning
them down the Stag and cnders OF the oSydiZcd
state surplus still remained over in tho atmospheric
in the scheme Of Nature oxygen plays the parof the
great destroyer. 1t is the genius of the eonagraon,
the insprcr Of universal decay As LebR has observed,
I IL constantly driving the point OF the sword TO the
heart of every living thing Our planet Is IN the EN-
brace Of this alldestructiye clement ana II the earth
left tn Itself, IL would soon reduce al things 20
ashes quesccnce, ara death The counteactng asehcK
understand 10 he solar radiation. The sun emits
chemical force which effects vegetation reyerscs the
chemistry or combustion and respiration and gives
origin to all products OF life Flesh blood sinow nerve
and brain have their origin in the aembic Of the leaf,
under the constructive influence of solar radiation These
taught us 10 gard all the HIGHER forms OF activity upon
astronomers
sun Is "A star aud that tho stars are suIs'
We are clrcng round the central star of our
planetary SYSTEM our remoest neghbor being Saturn,
three thousand millions OF miles away, which gives SIX
Thousand millions Of miles a. the diameter of our home
trosldo circle automatically considered ray OF light
wears 10 reach the stars of the first magnitude Then,
deeper in the prOfundties have stars OF the second
magnitude further back stars Of the thi ana fourh
down. We taught by Herschel aud Humboldt to re-
gard the light from the uttermOst boundaries OF the
of thousands, Of years reach M. But We are stl
dealing with suns our own having Loot is preenihehce
But what Of the rndiatons which arrive from these
ARE Identical with those of our own star sirius for ex
ample, sends set Of rays which, acting upon GER
tain chemical 'ubstances produce dccOposition These
rays break down the salts OF silver upon tho photo
graphic tablet rearranging the chemical atoms and eav
ngh visible image upon the surface For 100 parts of
derive parts from the remote systems which continue
To- make up that totny Of heat which renders life posi-,
bic upon the earth Flesh aud blood, nerve and brain
material could mot he fabricated here but for the total
concurrence Of cosmical energy. The whole dynamic
universe implicated in sustaining he e1isng order
NON, what the conditions Of thought The funta
mental condition to normal Physiological CHANCES IN Tie
brain. Thee changes are maintained by the circulation
OF the blood, with which tbs thinking organ Is kept con
stantly charged.
Little ~ recognize n, all the acts Of mind memory,
Judgment reason, Imagination, love. and reverence de
pend upon the eu-uIod ratio of physiological transfer
nations going on IN tho organ ol mind Human sanity.
responsibility and all action Of the intellect and feelings
have for their basis this normal rate of nervous change
but the organ OF thought In its action has for rs bn.is
taa lNSaA. GlEuDALIoa-ti1 steady vital ourgont from