ll2
the action of the heart modified by every mental emotion, and so often is there an attendant sensation referred to the chest, or epigastrium, that, in the language of almost every nation, the passions are spoken of as being seated either in the breast or bowels; while the intellectual phenomena, which are unattended by emotion, are referred to the head. But it is not improbable that there is a peculiar modification of the action of the heart, attendant upon every state of the mind; and, if so, what a material influence must the education and employment of the mind have, from this cause alone, on the general state of the bodily health. For instance, in the study of the pure mathematics, there is a fixedness of attention, and a quietude in the mental movements, little calculated to excite the heart's action; and the tranquillity attendant upon these studies is usually communicated to the general carriage and demeanour of the person; but, in the study or composition of works of imagination, how differently is the whole system affected! and this independently of any excitement of the passions, although it must be confessed that the imagination is seldom long active without awakening emotions, the sensations of which are referred to the pracordia. It is clear, from what I have premised, that the investigation of this subject, through its whole extent, would lay open a field of inquiry too wide for the compass of a single essay, or even for the labour of a long life of reading and observation; but this is no reason why the subject should not be begun upon, dimidium facti gui cmpit habet, others may follow me more adequate to the task, who may
