Psychology; or the science of the soul : considered pshysiologically and philosophically. With an appendix, containing notes of mesmeric and physical experience

Preface

This work was recently published in London under the following title : " Somnolism and Psycheism, otherwise Vital Magnetism or Mesmerism : considered Physiologically and Philosophically : being the substance of lectures delivered under the auspices of the Bolton Mechanics' Institution ; with an Appendix, containing notes of Mesmeric and Psychical experience."

We have taken the liberty to omit, in our title, such terms as may not be fully understood by all readers ; taking care, however, to make it equally appropriate.

The subject on which this work treats, is fast becoming of the most absorbing interest to our people, and it gives us pleasure to place before the American public the conclusions of those who have penetrated most deeply into these supposed mysteries of nature.

We look forward, hopefully, for the time when we may know those things which the world have always " believed" to be truths. Nor is it possible for any influence to limit the desires of the human mind to in-

PREFACE. IV

vestigate, until it has penetrated every subject which comes within the range of its comprehension.

May this work go forth to " open the eyes of the (spiritually) blind," and excite to further investigation and reflection those minds best capacitated to evolve " new light" on intellectual and spiritual vision.

This is a progressive age, not only in moral and physical development, but in spiritual science.

American Publishers.

Clinton Hall, 131 Nassau St., New York.

Table Of Contents

PAGE.

Introduction To Psychology 8-12

Characteristics of the age. — Chemistry a new science. — Geology.— A new world without and a new world within man. — Knowledge not confined to superstitions, assumptions, barren negations, nor skeptical philosophy, but something real — the nature, powers, and capabilities of his being. — Assistance afforded us by a knowledge of magnetism, or psycheism. — Discoveries and doctrines of an enlightened physiology. — Laws and developments of the world of mind capable of being displayed before our physical sight, — The curious and interesting phenomena displayed by rflesmerism too often neglected. — Authority too often no aid in eliciting truth. The most astounding statements of mesmeric experiments not more wonderful than universally admitted facts. — Wonder-working telegraph. — A dreaming theory or enthusiastic vision a reality. — Mesmerism the discovery of a new method of working an old medium. — A spiritual and a natural body. — The blessing of sight a fact that all philosophers have been heretofore unable to explain. — Our present standard of knowledge should not be the measure of future acquirements. — Psycheism a means of acquainting ourselves with the distinctive qualities of mind.

ORIGIN OF MESMERISM, 12-17

In records of past ages extraordinary cures ascribed to miracle, or magic. — Magnetism discovered toward the close of the last century.— Brief history of Mesmer and his discovery, and method of applying it.

PHENOMENA AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MESMERISM, . 17-60

Stages or degrees of mesmeric influence. — How they are to be understood and accounted for. — The brain and nervous system the medium through which the mind acts upon the body. — Illustrations and descriptions of the brain, etc. (see list of illustrations). — Methods of inducing the somnolent stnte. — Remarkable facts. — Catalepsy. — Phantasy. — Transfer of Feeling. — Phreno-mesmerism. — Cerebral lucidity, or clairvoyance.

PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF MESMERISM, 60-78 Clairvoyance the internal sight of the soul. — Sight without the aid of the eye not more difficult of explanation, when thoroughly examined, than ordinary vision. — Description of the human eye. — Clairvoyance and ordinary vision assume the same basis. — Mind and matter, soul and body, psyche or animus. — The external of the spirit. — Psycheism, or the science of the soul as manifested in nature. — Psychological change induced by mesmerism.— The superior state. — Independent clairvoyance. — The general power of the sensorium to form images within itself of objects that are without itself — Are all persons subject to mesmeric influence V and why all cannot be made clairvoyant.

TABLE OF CONTENTS. VI

Appendix

PAGE.

Case of E. L.— -Injury of the knee.— Treatment.^-The vapor ot ether.— -Its effects. —Hypnotism. — Phreno-magnetic developments. — Catalepsy. — Rigidity. — Attraction. — Delusion. — Susceptibility without the mesmeric sleep. — Personal influence. — Mesmerism without contact. — Tooth extraction. — Discovery of lucidity and clairvoyance. — Reading in a mesmeric state. — Pictures a reality. — Description of absent persons and objects. — Picture of the cat. — Emma's visit to the queen. — To the planets. — Omnipresent vision.-^-The cash-box stolen. — Successful clairvoyant search for it, and interview with the thief. — Tracing the route and circumstances of a traveler.

CLAIRVOYANCE AS APPLIED TO PHYSIOLOGY AND

MEDICINE, 95-100

Description of man's internal structure. — The, application of this power one of the most legitimate uses of clairvoyance. — Discovery of disease by the handwriting of a person at a distance, also by a lock of hair. — Remarkable cure of insanity by the aid of clairvoyant prescriptions. — Tasting medicines through bottles.— The exalted sense.

SPONTANEOUS EXTASIS, OR TRANCE, . . . 101-106 A higher and more interior character. — Scenery and nature of the spirit-world.— Recollections, predictions, and verifications. — Rigidity and insensibility to pain during a trance. — Communications with the spirits of the dead. — Finding a Bible and a particular place in it. — Man. represented as a spiritual being after death, and his sensational perception. — The male and female sexes retained.— Growth of infants. — The living influenced by the spirits of the dead. — Spirits not subject to the laws of time or space. — The body only the "sftell" of the spirit.

PRACTICE AND USE OF MESMERISM, . . . 106-109 A simple process. — Depends more on peculiar constitution of the subject than power of the operator. — Modes of operating. — Curative influence of mesmerism.— Necessity of Mesmerisers.— Mesmeric institutions.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

1 Cerebro-Spinal Axis.

2. The Nerves of the Brain.

3. View of the Top of the Brain.

4. Side View of the Brain.

5. Front View of a Section of the

Spinal Cord and Nerve.

6. View of the Structure of the Brain

7. The Right Hemisphere of the Brain

9. Horizontal Section of the Brain.

10. The Cerebellum, etc.

11. Parts about the Base of the Brain.

12. Right Hemisphere of the Brain.

13. Vertical Section of the Brain.

14. Perpendicular Section of the Brain.

15. Right Hemisphere of the Brain.

16. Ganglionic System of Vegetable Life.

8. The Cerebellum. | 17 . Spinal Cord> etc

Introduction

1. One of the striking characteristics of the present age, is the vast amount of knowledge respecting external objects, which has been accumulated in a comparatively short period. For within the compass of human life, so extensive has been the discovery of the physical properties of natural substances, that Chemistry, although of ancient date, may be considered as a new science ; and Geology has opened a new world to human enquiry. While man has thus been permitted to increase his knowledge of the world without him, we might reasonably expect that some additional knowledge would be acquired of the world within him. That his knowledge would not be confined to the superstitions of the dark ages, or to the assumptions of self-constituted authority on the one hand ; nor to the barren negations of a sceptical philosophy on the other hand ; but that something real, positive, and satisfactory, should be learnt respecting his own constitution. For what knowledge can be so interesting to man, as a knowledge of himself ? of the nature, powers, and capabilities of his own being.

2. To every calm, and well-informed enquirer, it will, I think, be evident, that the remarkable phenomena of what is called Mesmerism — or, as it is con-

8 INTRODUCTION.

sidered that it may more properly be called — Psycheism, rightly interpreted, do afford us the means of acquiring a knowledge of the laws and nature of the psychical, or mental part of our being, as much transcending what is commonly known, as the recent discoveries in magnetism and electricity exceed the ancient ideas of those natural powers ; and at the same time, they afford us the means of becoming better acquainted with the more abstruse points in our bodily organization also.

3. The discoveries and doctrines of an enlightened physiology, teach us, that all the forms and forces of the entire universe are found in their highest perfection in the bodily form of man ; and that in him, as the Microcosm, or little world, is to be found all that exists in the Macrocosm, or great world of the universe. And as in the great world without us, the most astonishing and transforming powers are displayed by those subtle, imponderable, and invisible elements, which elude the most acute physical senses, even when aided by the highest artificial means ; so in the world within us, the most wonderful and unexpected powers are manifested by those psychical or mental operations, by which the laws and developments of the world of mind are capable of openly being displayed before our physical sight.

4. But the curious and interesting phenomena displayed by Mesmerism, instead of being calmly and carefully investigated by all enquiring minds, especially by those whose profession or pursuits ought to have interested them in the enquiry, have, in too many instances, been scornfully and contemptuously neglected.

INTRODUCTION, 9

Authority , instead of lending its aid to elicit the truth, has rather scowled upon the attempt which has been made to lift the veil under which truth has been concealed ; and in some cases, has misrepresented the character and intentions of those, who, at any cost, were determined to seek her for themselves. It is possible indeed, that the very remarkable results said to flow from the enquiry — results, so different to the expectations and ideas of a materializing age, and in some respects, disclosing matters which seem to clash with established opinions — may have been the reason, for this unfair, and certainly unphilosophical mode of proceeding. But, granting that the most astounding statements made by mesmeric experiments are true, they are not, when properly considered, more wonderful than things now universally admitted as facts. Look at the wonder-working electric telegraph ! The elements on which that invention rests, must be as old as the present order of things ; yet if any one in the middle of the last century had ventured to assert that, by human ingenuity, electricity or magnetism could be made to transmit human thought with mathematical precision, and yet with the velocity of light, he would have been set down by the practical authorities of that age as a dreaming theorist, or an enthusiastic visionary. To US) however, the visionary theory has become a reality ; and yet what magnetism or electricity really are, is no more known to us than it was to our greatgrandfathers. The truth is, the mode has been elicited, by which certain comparative unknown mediums may be practically applied to subserve the purposes of social life ; and herein, and for all practical purposes, 1*

10 INTRODUCTION.

consists the useful discovery. If we shall never know what magnetism and electricity in themselves really are, we certainly do know much of the mode by which their laws and powers may be developed and manifested : we have discovered a mode of working mediums altogether unknown to our ancestors.

5. Just so, I apprehend, it is with the discoveries of Mesmerism. Here is, in fact, a discovery of a new mode of working an old medium. That mind and matter are both necessary to form the peculiar organism we call man, is no new doctrine ; but the true nature of the body, as the mind's medium or instrument, and of the necessary organization of that superior indwelling power — the soul or mind, which directs and controls the outward form, has been somewhat overlooked. Metaphysicians have studied mind irrespective of form or matter ; and some philosophers would resolve all things into material operation, irrespective of mind. I believe that fact and demonstrative evidence will prove both classes of philosophers to be wrong. From Divine Revelation we know that there is both spirit or mind, and matter ; both a spiritual body and a natural body. These cardinal truths will be found to lie at the bottom of all mesmeric experience, and from that experience, the a priori statements of the Scriptures will receive abundant confirmation. And we shall see that in our present state of existence, if we wish to study mind or spirit, we must study it as manifested in its divinely appointed, and true correspondent instrument, the material bodily organization.

6. With some of the mind's operations, and the bodily functions and sensations thence ensuing, we have

INTRODUCTION. 11

become so familiar, that we scarcely ever stop to think of the perpetual miracles involved in our daily experience. Thus the great blessing of sight involves, as we shall point out presently, a fact which all the philosophers that have ever lived have been unable to explain ! Yet when some manifestation of mind or spirit, which has hitherto eluded general notice, is brought before us, although it may not be more inexplicable than natural sight, yet we are apt to deny the possibility of the declared manifestation, simply because we were not previously acquainted with it — apt to make our present standard of knowledge the measure by which all future acquisitions are to be estimated. Sometimes too, we are told authoritatively, that it is impossible for us to know any thing of mind or spirit. What, I ask, do we know of matter? Simply some of its laws and properties ; and from these we predicate its qualities. So it is with mind or spirit ; Mesmerism, or more truly Psycheism, furnishes us with a means of acquiring an experimental acquaintance with some of its most distinctive qualities — distinctive I mean with respect to the qualities of inert matter. Whether we shall ever know w^hat spirit or what matter really is, remains for a higher stage of existence to determine. It is privilege enough to be enabled to know something of the laws and properties of that higher and imperishable organism, to which our outward bodily organism is subservient.

ORIGIN OF MESMERISM.

7. In the records of past ages, we have many statements of remarkable mental or psychical manifestations, and also of the performance of extraordinary cures, by mental or moral agency, which ignorance and superstition have ascribed to miracle or magic. And hence, cases resting on the best historical authority, have been doubted, and even denied in later times. Toward the close of the last century, the existence of some of these powers was discovered, partly from accident and partly from research ; and to the agency by which they were accomplished, the name of Animal Magnetism was applied by its modern discoverer— Mesmer. This individual has been represented in works of authority as an impostor and cheat, and as owing his celebrity entirely to the silly credulity of imaginative people. Few persons who have really taken the trouble to enquire into the matter, would now hazard such an assertion ; yet, whether from ignorance of the true cause of the phenomena he witnessed, or from a desire to mystify the subject, it must be admitted that he both did and said many things which justified suspicion.

ORIGIN OF MESMERISM. 13

8. Anton Mesmer was born in 1734, at Mersburg, on the shores of the Lake of Constance ; and died in his native place in 1815, at the advanced age of eightyone. At the age of forty-two he took the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in the University of Vienna. He appears to have been a man of an imaginative cast of mind ; for the inaugural Thesis he published on obtaining his degree, was "On the influence of the Planets on the Human Body. 5 ' Such a mind, if likely to fall into many errors, was still open for the reception of any new ideas which might present themselves ; and was not prone, as men of a more sceptical cast, to reject any new truth, because it did not harmonize with preconceived opinions. The then Professor of Astronomy, at Vienna, believed in the efficacy of the loadstone as a remedy in human disease ; and he had invented a peculiar form of magnetized steel plates, which, it is said, he applied to the cure of disease with much success. Mesmer obtained from the Astronomer, who was his personal friend, these magnets, and applied them in his own way ; and it is said, with such striking results, that he communicated them to the Astronomer, who published an account of them, but attributed the cures performed to the form of the plates, and merely represented Mesmer as a physician employed by him to use them. Mesmer, who had discovered the peculiar mode of using them to insure success — that was, in fact, by manipulations, now called Passes — was indignant at this, and accused his friend of a violation of the confidence placed in him. The result was a controversy between the parties ; each accusing the other. Notwithstanding this quarrel.

Mesmer proceeded in his own way, and acquired considerable popularity. But, whether from indiscretion on his part, or jealousy on the part of others, he was opposed by the scientific authorities of Vienna, and was ultimately obliged to quit that city.

9. In the year 1778, two years after obtaining his degree, he arrived at Paris, whither his popularity appears to have preceded him ; for we are told, even by his enemies, that upon his opening public apartments in that gay metropolis, for the reception of patients, they were speedily crowded by the numbers who daily resorted to them, including all classes, from the peer to the peasant ; and that hundreds were ready to testify to the cures wrought upon their own persons by the Great Magnetizer. Now, making every allowance for imagination or fancy ^ striking results must have followed his treatment, or no such enthusiasm could have been raised in his behalf. A French physician became a disciple of Mesmer, and is said speedily to have acquired the best practice in Paris. So great, in fact, was Mesmer's success, that the French Government took up the matter, and offered him a large annual income, if he would communicate his secret, and they appear to have thought so highly of the use to which this new agent might be applied, that they actually proposed to guarantee him a large sum, even if a commission appointed to examine the subject should make an unfavorable report ! Mesmer, however, did not accede to the government proposal. After some time, and divers vicissitudes, the sum of <£14,000 was raised by his disciples, whom he had instructed in his art, but whom he did not consider entitled to practice

ORIGIN OF MESMERISM. 15

it publicly — a right which they considered themselves to possess. Mesmer then returned to his native place ; and this has been represented as " running away from his dupes ;" but it appears that he retained faith in his views, and in his last illness sought relief from his own discovery.

10. As Mesmer's discoveries arose out of the use of magnets, it is not surprising that he should consider Magnetism as the agent by which the effects he witnessed were produced. He therefore taught that there was a fluid, or gas, universally diffused, which influenced the earth, and planets, and all animated bodies, and this fluid he called " Animal Magnetism. " He considered that it was capable of healing diseases of the nerves immediately, and other diseases mediately ; that it perfected the action of medicines, and tended to promote favorable crises in disease ; and that in Animal Magnetism, nature presented a universal method of healing the diseases, and preserving the health of mankind. ^The great end of Mesmer's proceedings, appears, therefore, to have been Use — the application of a remedy for human suffering ; and he does not appear to have been aware of the more curious, and distinctly psychical phenomena elicited by later enquirers. To the Marquis de Puysegur, a French nobleman, one of Mesmer's disciples, is attributed the discovery of the faculty called Clairvoyance, in the year 1784.

11. For the sake of brevity, I omit describing Mesmer's mode of operating, save that among other means for acting on his patients, he had a sort of box, filled with iron filings and pounded glass, placed in the centre of the room where they assembled ; and that they each were placed in connection with it, by means of polished metal rods, which they held in their hands ; and the patients were further united and connected by means of a chain encircling them. When the French Commissioners applied to this box the usual tests for terrestrial magnetism, and found no indication of ordinary magnetic influence, they reported that the whole was the work of imagination, meaning fancy; yet admitting that cures were effected. This Commission seems to have been both a prejudiced and unfair one. The name of Dr. Franklin occurs among the Commissioners, but he was at the time unwell, and incapable of attending to the enquiry ; and while the public report condemned Mesrner and his proceedings, one of the Commissioners, who had paid the greatest attention to the proceedings, published a private or individual report favorable to him. But in the year 1826, the French Government appointed a second Commission, and their Report, published in 1831, fully admits the truth of all the phenomena usually ascribed to Animal Magnetism. However, our business is not so much with the opinions of Mesmer, or that of his friends or enemies, as with that of the facts and phenomena associated with his name. It was soon discovered that the steel rods had but little if any thing to do with the phenomena produced ; but the name of Animal Magnetism continued to be used, and is still used on the Continent, and by this name the practice was introduced into England a few years ago. But the English enquirers into this remarkable human faculty, finding that the use of a name, which implied the existence of a fluid which could not be demonstrated to the senses, was frequently turned into an argument against facts which admitted of complete demonstration, adopted out of respect to the memory of Mesmer, and to avoid the appearance of the adoption of any theory of their own, the name of Mesmerism ; just as Magnetism is applied to the properties of the loadstone, from Magnes, the ancient reputed discoverer of its powers, or Galvanism, to the discoveries of Galvani. We therefore proceed to notice the facts and phenomena associated with the names of Mesmerism, or Animal Magnetism, and shall endeavor to ascertain the Laws and Causes to which these phenomena may be referred.

PHENOMENA AND PHYSIOLOGY OF MESMERISM.

12. There are several stages or degrees of what is called Mesmeric Influence ; or, in other words, the Mesmeric or Psychic State, involves a variety of states, having one common character, but presenting widely differing phenomena. Thus, there is simple Mesmeric Drowsiness or Sleep ; Coma, or more profound sleep ; Insensibility to Pain ; this, I believe, only occurs when the Mesmeric Coma is fully established, and most of the external senses, together with the proper consciousness of external objects is rendered dormant ; and the internal faculty of imagination is called into activity, without the guidance of true reason. Phantasy, or that state in which the Mesmerised person takes the mere suggestions of the mind of the % operator to be realities. Phreno-Mesmerism, or the manifestation of the Phrenological sentiments and feelings, which is but another form of simple imaginative action ; Transfer of State and Feeling, or that Imaginative action which causes the patient to feel what is done to the Mesmeriser, as if it were done to him; Mental Attraction, or apparent Magnetic drawing of the person of the patient, even contrary to his inclination. Cerebral Lucidity, or apparent illumination of the Brain ; with other forms of what is called Clairvoyance ; but which I think would be better called Inner Vision, or Internal, or Spiritual Sight. Assuming, therefore, for the present, that these phenomena exhibit a series of great and important facts, which cannot be set aside, neither by reason nor ridicule, I proceed at once to enquire — How we are to understand them ? In what way to account for the curious and interesting manifestations thus cast upon our notice ?

13. We must now therefore examine the medium by which the mind acts upon the bodily organization — namely, the Brain and Nervous System. It is common to speak of the nervous system, as consisting of the brain, the spinal marrow, and the nerves springing from them. This arrangement is true enough as far as it goes ; but it is not sufficiently particular for our purpose. For upon examining the interior of a human head, it will be found that every individual has two distinct brains. These two brains are very diflFerent in size as well as form and convolution. The upper and very much larger portion, and which in fact

ILLUSTRATIONS.

CEREBROSPINAL AXIS.

a, The brain.

b, Cerebellum.

f, Medulla oblongata.

g g, Nerves distributed to the arms.

k k, Great sciatic nerve distributed to the lower limbs.

I, Dorsal, and n, Lumber nerves.

m, Plexus of cervical nerves.

1, Olfactory nerve.

2, Optic nerve.

3, 4, 5, 6, The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth nerva.

7, Portio dura of the seventh nerve.

8, Auditory nerve and par vagum.

9, Hypoglossal nerve.

10, Sub-occipital nerve.

SOMNOLISM AND PSYCHEISM.

THE NERVES OF THE BRAIN.

a a a, Convolutions of the brain.

b, Cerebellum and arbor vitae, or tree of life.

c, Medulla oblongata.

d, Upper part of the spinal cord.

e, Eye.

f, Lateral ventricle.

0, Corpus callosum n, Pineal gland,

s, Quadrigeminal bodies.

1, Olfactory nerve.

2, Optic nerve.

3, 4, 5, 6, Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth nerves. 6', 5", Branches of the fifth nerve,

7, Portio dura of the seventh nerve. 7\ Auditory nerve.

8, Glossopharyngeal nerve. 8', Par vagum.

8", Spinal accessory nerve.

9, Hypoglossal nerve.

10, Sub-occipital nerve.

11, 12, First and second cervical nerves

ILLUSTRATIONS.

VIEW OP THE TOP OF THE BRAIN.

A A

A A, Front pnrt of the hrain.

AA, BB, Right ana left hemispnere.

SOMNOLISM AND PSYCHEISM.

SIDE VIEW OF THE BRAIN.

C— Cerebrum. D— Cerebellum. E— Medulla oblongata.

FRONT VIEW OF A SECTION OF THE SPINAL CORD AND NERVES.

A — Spinal cord. B — Spinal Nerve. C — Motor branch of spinal nerve. D — Ganglion of posterior branch of spinal nerve.

ILLUSTRATIONS.

VIEW OF THE STRUCTURE OF THE BRAIN.

A A

AB, AB, Are the right and left hemispheres of the brain.

FF, The cerebellum.

AA, The anterior lobe.

ee, The line which denotes the separation between the anterior lobe ami thp middle lobe.

DD, The middle lobe.

BB, The posterior lobe.

e, Thepons Varolii, which brings the two sides of the cerebellum into communication. It i* aU u named the Tuber annulare.

f, The Medulla oblongata.

rr, The Corpora pyramidalia.

s s, The Corpora olivaria.

1 1, The Corpora restiformia are on the opposite side of the corpora p\ ramidalia.

SOMNOLISM AND PSYCHEISM.

1. First pair, or olfactory nerves, arise by three origins. These unite and proceed forward and •nward in a groove in the inferior surface of the anterior lobes of the brain, and form a greyish

. swelling or ganglion. From this ganglion a great number of filaments proceed through the cribriform plate of the ethmoid bone, and are distributed upon the mucous membrane of the nose. It is the nerve of the sense of smell.

2. Second pair, or optic, arise principally from the anterior corpora quadrigemina. Each nerve passes outward through the optic foramen in the sphenoid bone, and is expanded upon the retina. It is the nerve of the sense of sight.

3. Third pair, or motores oculorum, originate from the motor tract of the spinal cord, immediately after they have passed through the pons Varolii. Each nerve escapes through the sphenoidal fissure, and supplies five of the muscles within the orbit with motor filaments.

4. Fourth pair, or trochleares, originate from the processus e cerebello ad testes and valvula of Vieussens. Each nerve passes out from the cranium at the sphenoidal fissure, and is entirely distributed upon the superior oblique muscles of the eyeball. It is a motor nerve.

5. Fifth pair. These nerves issue from the surface of the brain, near the junction of the pons Varolii and crus cerebelli, but actually arise from the restiform bodies. Each nerve escapes from the cranium by three separate openings, and is extensively distributed upon the orbit and other parts of the face. Part of the filameuts of this nerve are sensitive, and part motor.

6. Sixth pair originate from the pyramidal bodies, as they are about to enter the pons Varolii. Each nerve escapes through the sphenoidal fissure, and is entirely distributed upon the external rectus muscle of the eyeball. It is a motor nerve.

7. Portio dura of the seventh pair originate from the restiform bodies. Each nerve is extensively distributed in the muscles of the face and external ear. It is the motor nerve of the muscles of expression of the face.

8. Portio mollis of the. seventh pair, or auditory nerves, (eighth pair of some authors), arise principally from a small grey swelling on the upper surface of the restiform bodies at the side of the fourth ventricle. Each nerve is distributed upon the internal ear, and is the nerve of the sense of hearing.