Page:The Philosophy of Creation.djvu/108

 substance of which affection and thought are predicated, that gives motion to the brain.

Not only are affection and thought the active elements in the brain, and consequently its life, but as the brain is the primary vitalizing organ in the body, they are the life of the whole body. This is evident from self-examination and general observation. The action of the heart and lungs is immediately affected by the state of affection and thought. In deep meditation, the hearts beats are subdued, and respiration is fainter. Fright temporarily checks vital action, and animation stimulates it. When fervent and rich affections are called forth, the heart-beats are heavier, and respiration is longer-drawn and deeper. Affections of a passionate nature set the blood and body as it were on fire. Happy affections and cheerful thoughts aid digestion, strengthen the general organism, favor health, and generate pure blood. Morbid affections and thoughts corrupt the whole body and breed disease and sickness. Affections and thoughts operate even so far as to write their quality and kind in the features. Not only can we generally distinguish the features of an intellectual person from one