70 CHAP. V. EFFECTS OF MENTAL ATTENTION ON BODILY ORGANS. AMONG the phenomena which attest the various influence of the mind on the bodily organs, has sufficient notice been taken of those peculiar effects which depend on the simple act of concentrating the attention separately upon them? The influence of the will on the voluntary muscles, and of the passions of mind upon other parts of the animal economy, has long been the subject of study. Not equally so the effects of the consciousness thus directed, by distinct voluntary effort, to particular organs or parts of the body;-a power which to a great extent, the mind undoubtedly possesses; and which appears, though closely or even indissolubly linked with others of its functions, to be nevertheless distinct in its nature and results. It may be exercised as a mental act, without the suggestions of previous sensation from these parts: and, though it may be termed a function of the will directed towards the body, it produces no effect on the muscular structure as such. Where indeed the attention is excited by external impressions, it is perhaps but another name for sensation itself; but we need a different term for that voluntary act by which the consciousness receives, as it were, a local direction, and is by effort retained for a time in this state. It is this inquiry which I do not find to have been explicitly made; though the familiarity of the effects, and of the language applied to them, as well as the speculations regarding a vital principle, common to physiologists of every - age, may be said to have implied in reality all the points in question.* For the moment, however, without looking further into the nature of this power, or how it may best be distinguished from other mental acts, let us take some of the numerous examples, in proof how general these effects are:- with admission, at the same time, that different parts are affected in different degree; either from diversity in the parts themselves, or, as it may perhaps be deemed, from the unequal power of concentrating the attention, expressly and separately, on different organs or portions of the body. The term of attention, even regarding it as a function of the will, is not altogether the best for these illustrations; and that of "direction of consciousness" might generally be substituted for it. But, whatever expression we adopt, there can be little difficulty in the clear understanding of the fact. The effects of consciousness directed to the heart and organs of respiration are in some sort ambiguous, from the facility with which these organs are affected by every mental emotion, however slight in degree; and the difficulty of separating attention, as an act of mind, from feelings of this nature. Yet there is cause to believe the action of the heart quickened, or otherwise disturbed, by the mere centering of consciousness upon it, without any emotion or anxiety. On occasions where its beats are audible, observation closely applied will give proof of this. And where there is liability to irregular pulsation, such irregularity is seemingly brought on or increased by the simple effort of attention, even though no obvious emotion be present.+ * Müller has dwelt more on this subject than other physiologists, and with his wonted acuteness; but limits his consideration chiefly to the effect of attention in augmenting the intensity of ordinary sensations. + I might add here that I have reason to think hæmorrhage (as, for The same may be said of the parts concerned in respiration. If this act be expressly made the subject of consciousness, it will be felt to undergo some change; generally to be retarded at first, and afterwards quickened. But the same alterations are so readily produced in the state of respiration by other causes, and even by the effort of attention applied to other parts, that the proof from this source is more equivocal, though the reality of the fact can scarcely be doubted. The act of yawning may be cited as a part of this function, where the effect of simple attention to the organs is very curiously shown; producing complex and even violent muscular motions, in which the will and involuntary powers are concurrently engaged. The actions of coughing and sneezing give similar illustration of the fact. The organs of articulation and deglutition are variously subject to the same influence, producing many remarkable effects. Some of these appear to depend on the conjunction of voluntary and involuntary agency in the functions of the same parts; which, whensoever occurring, is always a source of very singular phenomena. The act of swallowing is manifestly rendered more difficult by the attention being fixed upon it; and the same cause will often be found to render articulation less distinct, especially when there exists already some impediment to the function. A similar direction of consciousness to the region of the stomach creates in this part a sense of weight, oppression, or other less definite uneasiness; and when the stomach is full, instance, epistaxis) quickened by the same cause; but whether by direct influence on the vessels of the part, or through excitement given to the heart's action, may be doubtful. * The general effect of any eager act of attention, however directed, in checking for a time the movements of respiration, is a remarkable fact, and connected with many other phenomena of this function. appears greatly to disturb the due digestion of the food. It is remarkable how instantly under such circumstances the effect comes on; a fact readily attested by experiment which every one may make for himself. This part of the body is well known to be singularly under the influence of all mental emotions; and it is difficult, as we have seen, so far to individualize or simplify the act of attention as to remove it wholly out of this class. The symptoms of the dyspeptic patient are doubtless much aggravated by the constant and earnest direction of the mind to the digestive organs, and the functions going on in them. Feelings of nausea may be produced, or greatly increased, in this way; and are often suddenly relieved by the attention being diverted to other objects. The proofs of this are frequent and familiar, especially in the curious phenomena of sea-sickness. Further, the state and action of the bowels are much influenced by the same cause. Sensations occur of which we were not before conscious, and the actions of the lower bowels in particular are obviously excited and quickened. Such also is the case with the bladder; which is solicited to act, when not otherwise disposed, by attention directed to it; the cessation of this removing at once all present sense of need. The power which this stimulated attention to particular parts of the body has in altering, as well the sensations derived from them, as also more or less their functional state, may be instanced in many other ways. The salivary glands, for example, are manifestly thus altered in their secretions; organs, it may be remarked, singularly susceptible of being affected instantly by all mental emotions.* In the gums, the * Does not the influence of mental emotions on the stomach depend in part on the changes thereby produced on the secreting glands? We have evidence to this effect in all the glands connected with the digestive functions, which are more immediately within our observation. sensation created by attention given to them may rise almost into pain. The feelings produced in the tongue in like way are peculiar and well marked. Or a single limb, or portion even of a limb, may be taken for experiment; and a peculiar sense of weight and restlessness, approaching to cramp, be produced by urging the attention expressly upon it. Here the muscular structure may be presumed to be chiefly affected; and with feelings much akin to those generally arising from fatigue, or stagnant circulation through the limb. Sensations of heat or cold, or other more vague feelings, on the surface of the body, may readily be created in similar way. In that state of skin, however produced, of which general itching is the symptom, the attention directed upon any particular part, will very often bring this sensation immediately to it. Such cases as these, where it is difficult to prove more than a change or increase of sensation from the parts under this influence, may appear ambiguous in proof. But that some real alteration is made in them, as respects either their nervous state, or circulation, or both, is probable from the more distinct evidence of this in other instances, under the same cause of excitement.* * I doubt not that certain of the results of animal magnetism are to be explained by reference to these facts. In some instances, where I have seen the magnetizer perform his operations on a limb, and then inquire as to the feelings created in it, the sensations expressed by the patient were such as might readily be created by the solicitation of the question, especially under the nervous condition already induced. The same concentration of consciousness on the head or præcordia, when the mind is under this excitement, creates effects more remarkable and various; and in hysterical habits such as may appear to belong to a more mysterious cause. Other illustrations to the same effect will readily occur to those who have witnessed experiments thus directed, and will apply to this source for their solution. It may be reasonable to refer to the same principle some of the alleged facts in homœopathy, especially the long train of symptoms catalogued as |