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"Or that as the Rays of Light from the Sun are instantly transmitted to all the sublunary Parts of the great World; so hence the Sensitivum Quid, in like Manner, through the nervous Tubes, having here their Origin, should as suddenly as those Rays darted from that great Luminary, be likewise conveyed to all the Confines of the lesser."

— Turner, Daniel (1667-1741)

Author

Turner, Daniel (1667-1741)

Work Title

The art of surgery: in which is laid down such a general idea of the same, as is founded upon Reason, confirm'd by practice, and farther illustrated with many singular and rare Cases Medico-Chirurgical

Place of Publication

London

Publisher

Printed for C. Rivington

Date

1722

Metaphor

"Or that as the Rays of Light from the Sun are instantly transmitted to all the sublunary Parts of the great World; so hence the Sensitivum Quid, in like Manner, through the nervous Tubes, having here their Origin, should as suddenly as those Rays darted from that great Luminary, be likewise conveyed to all the Confines of the lesser."

Metaphor in Context

And here indeed I have been often put upon a serious Consideration, how such a Heap of Pultis like Matter, a kind of Quag or Bog, and which as Sydenham observes, carries so little Analogy in its Form, and appears seemingly so unlikely to manage an Office of Intelligence, should yet be qualified for the same; that here, I say, as in some great Emporium, the Business not only of Sensation, but Imagination, Memory, Reflection and Ratiocination, should be principally kept and transacted: Or that as the Rays of Light from the Sun are instantly transmitted to all the sublunary Parts of the great World; so hence the Sensitivum Quid, in like Manner, through the nervous Tubes, having here their Origin, should as suddenly as those Rays darted from that great Luminary, be likewise conveyed to all the Confines of the lesser; or that hence, as swiftly those imperceptible Messengers called animal Spirits, should, at the Nutus Animae, rush through their Meandrous Paths like Lightning, and having dispatched the Mandates of the Will, as speedily bring back their Errand to the common Sensory: That here, I say, the Soul should hammer out the liberal Arts and Sciences, and furnish the Knowledge of most other Beings, whilst she retains so short a Glimpse of the [GREEK], or rather, still remains in almost perfect Ignorance, how these Appearances are really brought about: Astonishing surely this! A most stupendous Providence! And may we not surmise, design'd at least to humble us, if not to acknowledge our Dependence, when we reflect that the same supreme Being, who, as the sacred Records witness, said to the proud Waters, hitherto shall you come, and not farther; has laid the like Injunction upon the most prying Eye, the most expert and inquisitive Dissector, whether Physician or mere Naturalist, when he has look'd over the other Parts, the Fabric of the Muscles with their geometrical Proportions, the Articulations of the more stable ones, the Bones, the Divarications of the Vessels, Veins, Arteries, Lymphatics; the admirable Mechanism of the organic Parts, so well adapted to their several Uses; nay, even the curious Filaments, or Plexus of the Nerves themselves, with their Source at this Fountain Head, the Brain, meet now with the same huc usque, sed non ultra.
(Section III, p. 200-2)