Article #19 - Is the brain the seat of the mind?

That the brain is the organ of by and through which the mind is manifested I believe is not disputed. Dr. A. Comb says, “it is the seat of thought, of feeling, and of consciousness.” That it is the seat of the mind is evident from the following facts. It is not known that mind exists without brain, a sound mind requires a healthy brain, an injured brain is accompanied by an im-

paired mind, when the brain is in action the mind is in action, when the brain reposes the mind reposes, local diseases, in spreading, do not effect [sic] the mind until they reach the brain, then the mind is immediately effected, such is the case in nervous effections [sic] and in fevers. The strength of mind depends also on the size of the brain, a large brain notes mental power, a very small brain is always idiotic, when any particular part of the brain is effected, a particular trait of the mind is universally effected.* Insanity is produced by various causes and those causes invariably effect the brain to produce insanity. Pressure on the brain instantly suspends consciousness. Our five senses have immediate connection with the brain, and it is through the organs of these senses that an impression of outward objects is made upon the brain and a knowledge of all objects is conveyed to the mind by these organs of sense, therefore the brain is the organ by which the mind obtains knowledge of all objects. Now as the brain is the organ by which the mind obtains knowledge, and also by which it displays itself, it may truly be called the seat of the mind. Phrenologists agree to it, and I do not know of it being disputed.

*In margin, pencilled note: not agreed to by C. Chambers