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114 ESOTERIC ANTHROPOLOGY.
the nervous fluid, which corresponds to the blood ;
while the cortical substance of the brain, and central
substance of the spinal cord, the grey, or cineritious, or
vesicular matter, as it is variously termed, seems to be
the part in which the nervous fluid is elaborated, and in
which resides also the force which presides
action.
over its
Swedenborg says the connecting link between spirit
and matter is a nervous fluid, which partakes of the
qualities of both, and is by
that means the medium of
communication. Those who are curious, will do well
to read his physiological writings.
We are here on the confines of a vast kingdom of
nature, which has as yet been but little explored, and
of which we have but vague and general ideas. We
know that the brain is the organ of the soul. We know
that the nerves are the ordinary and obvious means of
communication between the soul and the universe. We
know that impressions reach the soul by sensation, and
that it finds expression in voluntary motion, by means
of the nervous connection.
This is all true ; but this is not all the truth. There
are other avenues to the soul than through the senses,
and the soul has other means of impressing herself on
other beings than by speech and gesture. There are
aromal influences, or soul spheres and mediums, around
us, by means of which we receive and give impres
sions. Even in this life, the soul is not wholly depend
ent on the senses, nor fettered to the common modes
of expression. Independent spiritual powers, of a very
remarkable character, are often exhibited under particu
lar conditions.