"It is here that the mind holds its empire, though it is impossible to demonstrate how this is effected, and beyond this point its power ceases."

— Valli, Eusebius (1762-1815)


Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for J. Johnson
Date
1793
Metaphor
"It is here that the mind holds its empire, though it is impossible to demonstrate how this is effected, and beyond this point its power ceases."
Metaphor in Context
The origin of a nerve is a small organ of a very particular design. It is here that the mind holds its empire, though it is impossible to demonstrate how this is effected, and beyond this point its power ceases. A proof of this assertion is evident, in my opinion, from the following observation:--Suppose a frog to be divided into two portions by being cut across the body, its posterior extremities, the nerves of which are sent from the medulla spinalis, move about in the same way as if they were still attached to the body of the living animal. The movements become stronger when pressure is, applied to the mutilated parts. Even if they remain quiet and be again handled, they awake as it were, and move as if to avoid being touched. If the body be divided in its whole length, including the head, the fore legs make the same motions with the hind ones.
(pp. 205-6)
Categories
Provenance
Browsing in Google Books
Citation
Only 1 entry in ESTC (1793).

Eusebius Valli, Experiments on Animal Electricity With Their Application to Physiology and Some Pathological and Medical Observations (London: Printed for J. Johnson, 1793). <Link to ESTC><Link to Google Books>
Date of Entry
04/27/2012

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.