SUSPENDED CONSCIOUSNESS.
go THE EDITOR OF THE " srgc-rAros."1
Cia,—In the letter on the above subject in the Spectator of April 12th, the Rev. W. H. E. McKnight, describing the results .of the "operation of trepanning" in the very interesting ease :alluded to says : "As soon as the crushed part of the skull 'was raised, the man became conscious ;" and then he adds : -" The brain began its work again from the moment of suspen- sion, and the interval of several days had not obliterated the .thought which had signalled to the will, but all started into .action again at once, and completed the intended act." I italicise eight important words. That is your correspondent's version of the process; but, Sir, is it not permissible to doubt whether this is really a correct description of what took place with man, and" will," and "brain "P How do we know that the story should not rather read thus : "The brain began its work again from the moment of suspension, and the interval of several days had not obliterated the thought which had been signalled to the brain by the will, but brain started now at once into operation again, and completed the intended act"? That is to say, may not the "will" have " signalled " to that recording instrument, the "brain," instead of the " thought " having "signalled to the will "?—I am, Sir, &c., W. H. B.
Previous page
