The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1873-01-26
THE BULLETIN.
BRAIN FORCE.

been undertaken with the view OF de-
tsrmining whether there be any law of
mutual dependence between the mental
and physical Z rces, or, as the formula has
Il, whether these forces are correlated, q
term best defined by the simple question,
does . given amount Of physical force
such - that exerted by the muscles Of the
arm In lifting a weight, the expansion OF
steam in the cylinder, or the attraction OF
steel to the magnet-represent or bear any
direct relation or resemblance to the
mental forco which 10 exerted or brought
into play when man reasons or remem-
bers7 In order to establish or disprove
any such theory, it lie evidently essential
that the chemical and physical constitu-
tion Of the brain, the seat Of all mental
action, should 10 carefully determined.
To discover the simple constituents Of the
brain, q chemica. analysis was all that
was needed but when 1t became evident
that In order to understand the working OF
tho brain we must see it work, the
problem became more intricate and diff
cult; yet it has been finally solved by the
following delicate experiment A part of
the bony covering Of q dogs skull was
carefully removed and the surface Of the
brain laid bare in this opening, which
was circular and Of the proper size,
watch-crystal was carefully inserted, and
90 nicely adjusted as to exclude the air.
and thus prevent undue irritation. Deli
cate as 10 this operation, the animal sur
vive. it, and the investigator may watch
the effects of food, sleep, fear, etc. upon
the brain, through this circular window.
By this means 1t was determined, that,
when the dog is asleep, the brain is paler,
on his awakening, when the functions Of
the brain resume their activity. From
these observations, and others Of kind
red nature, there is deduced the theory
that "the brain is governed by the com.
mon law that controls blood circulation in
all the organs" We have chosen TO pre-.
sent these facts in detail, since they illus.
trate the general nature OF those inves,i-
cations, though they may not offer satis-
factory solution Of the main problem.
However these philosophers or their
theories may differ as to the true origin
brain force, they are yet all agreed on one
point; namely, that the action Of the
brain may be stimulated, strengthened, or
retarded at the will Of its possessor. As
the body proper is made strong, the mus
cles developed, aud the organs Of sense
rendered more acute, by active use and
training; SO the mental faculties-the
power TO reason, remember, etc.,-are
are rendered strong and effective by
proper and repeated exercise. Just as the
muscles Of the arm may, by lifting ten
pounds to-day and twenty tomorrow,
finally attain such strength as readily to
raise . hundredweight or more SO the
mind that to-day is able to comprehend or
retain the mos. simple OF mental problems,
may tomorrow master q second and more
intricate one.
Its narrated of a famous French ne
cromancer, that after walking quickly
past richly furnished shop window, and
giving i, a mere hurried glance, he was
able to name each separate article there
displayed giving, With perfec: accuracy,
not only its name, but its precise location,
form and color. When this man was
asked to reveal the secre. by which he
worked such wonders, his simple reply
was, practice. Day after day, and hun
dred times each day, he and hi. son would
pass in front Of the same window, hating
before each return 10 repeat to the MEM
ory the list Of articles noted, marking also
any changes which may have been made
during the interval. Each day the list
was heightened; and SO acute did tie
sight become, and SO trained their powers
Of observation, tina. finally they were en-
abled to name every book in
. library through which they had
passed in apparent unconcern. The story
no doubt, seems an extravagant one; ye,
the m leans for testing its truth are at the
command Of any honest enquirer. In
the instance cited, the main purpose Of
these men was to perplex and mystify
their audience, and, by the exercise of thi.
apparently miraculous power, gained q
livelihood. II, however, any Of our
readers feel DESTROYS Of trying for them.
selves, W, would suggest Il method tha,
will render the end worthy of the effort
Having determined upon some poem OF
address which il 10 desired TO commit &c
memory, read carefully and with closes,
attention the frs. few lines; then close
the book, and for five minutes write and
rewrite the words as recalled, preserving
n far as possible, the sense of the passage
Again repeat the reading and the recital,
going over both until the whole
is thoroughly committed TO memory,
when second advance may be made, and
that with the conscious evidence Of i'm.
provement Should, it, however, be de.
sired to test or develop the reasoning or
thinking faculties, then le, the subject
chosen be a single proposition in Euclid
or difficult scientific or mathematical
problem. In this case, as it lie not the
memory but the reason which lie under
training, let the mind DO concentrated
upon the idea which is meant TO be con.