Cheyne, George (1671-1743)

The English Malady: or, a Treatise of Nervous Diseases of All Kinds

London

Printed for G. Strahan

1733

"I own it is much easier to confute than establish, and I should not be very Sanguin about the Non-existence of animal Spirits, but that I have observ'd the dwelling so much upon them, has led Physicians too much to neglect the mending Juices, the opening Obstructions, and the strengthening the Solids, wherein only the proper and solid Cure of nervous Distempers consists; and apply to Volatiles, Foetids, and Stimulants: which, at best, are but a Reprieve, and is not unlike blowing up the Fire, but at the same Time forcing it to spend faster, and go out sooner; for Volatiles, Aromaticks, and Cordials, are much of one and the fame Nature, and all but Whips, Spurs, and pointed Instruments to drive on the resty and unwilling Jade."

VIII. To conclude this dark Subject of animal Spirits, if they must be suppos'd, we may affirm they cannot be of the Nature of any Fluid we have a Notion of, from what we see or know. Indeed, the large Size, the wonderful Texture, and the great Care and security Nature has employ'd about the Brain, makes it probable it has been design'd for the noblest Uses, viz. to be the Temple or Sensorium of the sentient and intelligent Principle. And its Resemblances, in many Circumstances, to the other Glands, which certainly separate Liquors, makes it not impossible that it may have Uses analogous to those. But how to assign them, explain, or accord them with what has been suggested above, I know-not. May not the sentient Principle have its Seat in some Place in the Brain, where the Nerves terminate, like the Musician shut up in his Organ-Room? May not the infinite Windings, Convolutions, and Complications of the Beginning of the Nerves which constitute the Brain, serve to determin their particular Tone, Tension, and consequently the Intestin Vibrations of their Parts? May they not have interwoven Blood Vessels and Glands to separate a milky Liquor, to soften, moisten, and continue their Elasticity, and innate Mechanick Powers through the Whole nervous Systems? And also to keep them in a proper Condition to play off the Vibrations, Tremors, and Undulations made on them by Bodies, or their Effluvia? May not these Vibrations be propagated through their Lengths by a subtile, spirituous, and infinitely elastick Fluid, which is the Medium of the intelligent Principle? As Sound is convey'd thro' Air to the Tympanum, and by it to this Medium or AEther, and from the Medium to the Intelligent Principle, and as Sight is perform'd through or by Light. And is not the Analogy of Nature and Things thus, in some measure, preserv'd? I own it is much easier to confute than establish, and I should not be very Sanguin about the Non-existence of animal Spirits, but that I have observ'd the dwelling so much upon them, has led Physicians too much to neglect the mending Juices, the opening Obstructions, and the strengthening the Solids, wherein only the proper and solid Cure of nervous Distempers consists; and apply to Volatiles, Foetids, and Stimulants: which, at best, are but a Reprieve, and is not unlike blowing up the Fire, but at the same Time forcing it to spend faster, and go out sooner; for Volatiles, Aromaticks, and Cordials, are much of one and the same Nature, and all but Whips, Spurs, and pointed Instruments to drive on the resty and unwilling Jade.
(pp. 88-9)

Fire Animals::Horse::Jade

Reading at the British Library

At least 8 entries in ESTC (1733, 1734, 1735).

See The English Malady: or, a Treatise of Nervous Diseases of All Kinds, As Spleen, Vapours, Lowness of Spirits, Hypochondriacal, and Hysterical Distempers, &c. In Three Parts. Part I. of the Nature and Cause of Nervous Distempers. Part II. of the Cure of Nervous Distempers. Part III. Variety of Cases That Illustrate and Confirm the Method of Cure. With the Author’s Own Case at Large. (London: Printed for G. Strahan in Cornhill, and J. Leake at Bath, 1733). <Link to ESTC>

06/20/2014