Mental Alchemy: A Treatise on the Mind, Nervous System, Psychology, Magnetism, Mesmerism, and Diseases
Book Details
Author(s)B. Brown Williams
ISBN / ASINB008V1YDRQ
ISBN-13978B008V1YDR3
Sales Rank182,224
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
Exerpt:
The relation of Mind to Matter—Action and Reaction of the Nervous System—Analogy between the Corporeal System of Man and the Universe—Man's Spiritual Nature an Emanation from the Spiritual World.
In taking a careful view of the past as well as the present, it is clear, that philosophers materially differ in their deductions in regard to the relation which mind bears to matter, and in regard to the legitimate action of the nervous system in the support of physical and mental operations.
We wish it distinctly understood, that we do not venture deductions in opposition to those that now obtain; but our purpose is merely to call attention to the practical phenomena that mental alchemy has developed. If the philosopher or physiologist should, from these developments, discover any thing deficient, or any thing that should be added to the great intellectual and physical fabric, or any thing that may have a tendency to cause it still further to unfold its mysteries, the object we have in view will be realized. Without any display of words then, we simply mean, by this term, mental alchemy, the expressed action of the nervous system in carrying impressions to the mind, and the reaction of the mind upon the same, in the support of its mental as well as physthrough their fixed, and sometimes anastomosing channels, even down to the very marrow or pith of the bones. If we rise still higher, we find another kingdom or division, extending to the distance of fifty miles above the earth's surface, called the gaseous, atmospherical, or respiratory; we have corresponding thereto in man, the lungs and their appendages, as his atmospheric and gaseous department, for the constant respiration, retention, and consumption of the elements of these external systems, as seen in the economy of respiration.
The relation of Mind to Matter—Action and Reaction of the Nervous System—Analogy between the Corporeal System of Man and the Universe—Man's Spiritual Nature an Emanation from the Spiritual World.
In taking a careful view of the past as well as the present, it is clear, that philosophers materially differ in their deductions in regard to the relation which mind bears to matter, and in regard to the legitimate action of the nervous system in the support of physical and mental operations.
We wish it distinctly understood, that we do not venture deductions in opposition to those that now obtain; but our purpose is merely to call attention to the practical phenomena that mental alchemy has developed. If the philosopher or physiologist should, from these developments, discover any thing deficient, or any thing that should be added to the great intellectual and physical fabric, or any thing that may have a tendency to cause it still further to unfold its mysteries, the object we have in view will be realized. Without any display of words then, we simply mean, by this term, mental alchemy, the expressed action of the nervous system in carrying impressions to the mind, and the reaction of the mind upon the same, in the support of its mental as well as physthrough their fixed, and sometimes anastomosing channels, even down to the very marrow or pith of the bones. If we rise still higher, we find another kingdom or division, extending to the distance of fifty miles above the earth's surface, called the gaseous, atmospherical, or respiratory; we have corresponding thereto in man, the lungs and their appendages, as his atmospheric and gaseous department, for the constant respiration, retention, and consumption of the elements of these external systems, as seen in the economy of respiration.
