St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1896-03-01

credulity of the most skeptical will be
shaken. This is exactly what occurred. Each
subject rendered substantially the same ac-
count of the circulation of the gray matter
as that given by the first one. 1t was only
after the most patient and searching tests
that Dr. Ribot has felt justified in announc-
ing the discovery of the two important facts
recorded above.
But it is not likely that science will allow
the matter to rest here, A grand principle
has been unearthed. and 1T remains to work
out the remarkable and interesting conse-
quences that must follow One of the most
important of these is the tracing of idea
from its inception to its full development.
This subject is full of scientific and popular
interest Hitherto our knowledge of the ma
chinery of the mind has been practically no
knowledge at all. We all have thoughts and
ideas. The very existence Of man as a SUI
think and to form and develop ideas. With
out this power should be reduced to the
level of the lower animals. The question,
therefore, What is an idea, and how does it
develop? is one that offers a most inviting
field for Investigations ifte crE- .a =..4f 90,
1t would seem to follow, as a corollary of
the discovery enunciated by DR.. Ribot, that
an idea, - from its inception in the brain,
is material thing or substance which, join
ing in the general course of the gray mist
throughout the nervous system, is diffused
to the various parts of the body, gaining
form and strength in its passage, until on
its return to the brain it has developed to
much larger and more complete proportions.
On each successive circulatory passage and
return to the brain it further increases in
tains the greatest perfection allowed by the
brain capacity of the individual. In some
persons the idea would develop into much
more complete proportions than in others,
owing to the differences in the fneness of
the brain texture or gray mist"
PROGRESS IN IDEA DEVELOPMENT.
We all familiar with the sensation of the
development of an idea. At first, at its ncep-
ton, when the idea, so to speak, is born, it is
faint, carrying with it no definite conviction.
If we concentrate our thought the idea en-
larges gradually, it is true. but by steps, not
in a steady flow, if the word may be used.
How many of us have not suddenly exclaimed,
after thinking over some perplexing problem,
Il have it at last!' The solution, the full de-
unexpected instant. The problem does not
gradually "swell'' itself to solution.
This it is very probable, is due to the circu-
lation of the idea throughout the nervous sys-
tenn, in accordance with the scheme laid bare
by DR.. Ribot's hypnotic subject. The idea
starts on it's course weak. infant. On its re-
turn to the brain it has gathered strength
actually gained in material On the next re-
turn it is still further developed Finally,
after a number of successive calculations
throughout the nervous system, it has become
as near perfect as is possible under the condi-
| tons imposed upon it by its surroundings
the health of the individual and the quality Of
his brain.
That this theory of the development of an
idea is probably correct is shown by the mar
Vicious cures that have been made in insane
patients at the Hospital of Salpetriere. Rea-
soning according to the results of his investi-
cations, DR.. Ribot concluded that insanity in a
large number of cases arises from mechanical
and other Interruptions of the return flow of
this gray mist" visible only to abnormal
sight; in other words, exactly as clots form
in the blood, producing apoplexy so clots form
In the nervous system, producing insanity.
By placing the patient under human micro
scope, the whole progress of the flow through
the nervous system is traced until the clot is
found. Then it is removed.
When a committee of English phvsicians
visited Salpetriere to inquire into the dis
covery of the circulation of the brain they
found many Of the experiments of the French
scientists based upon the use of the abnormal
senses Of hypnotees, and objected strongly
Ribot replied to this effect: Gentlemen,
when grain of sand becomes too fine to
see it with the naked eye we place a lens
over it and examine it in all its details.
What we see through the lens is not the grain
Of sand, only Its reflection in the lens. Now,
the lens is subject to all sorts of error, and
there is in addition the error of observation;
but when we go carefully over the whole
field and correct the faults Of refraction in
the glass, estimate the errors of polarization
in the light, and eliminate the personal euua-
ton in the observer, we become perfectly sat
isfied with the result 1t is as scientific as
any method we have. Now we take these
'sensitives,' not one, but scores of them
We test their work thoroughly In every pos
sible kind Of way. We test ourselves for the
personal equation When we eliminate ev-
suit is just as scientific with this animate
microscope as that with inanimate micro
scope"
One of the English physicians interposed
the objection that cit was impious to use
one of Gods creatures as a microscope, and
that God would not permit one to be used
Tor such purpose except to confuse and con-
found: To this objection no attention was
paid by the Frenchmen and the other Eng
lishmen merely expressed doubt that the
personal equation could be eliminated.
The usefulness of Dr. Ribot's discovery
cannot yet be fathomed. Undoubtedly science
Is on the verge Of some of the most import
ant revelations known to the world of
medicine and surgery The "mind" of man
has. as far as the nature of its working is
concerned, hitherto been little more than
name. But the prying eye of science has
penetrated its mystery, and there can he
little doubt that it's secret anarations will
soon be disclosed.