"Those of the medical profession must readily accord with the remark of Shakspeare, that such affections (disturbed states of the nervous system) which may well indeed be called 'master passions,' sway us to their mood in what we like or loathe. For we well know that our patients and ourselves, from disturbance of the nervous functions of the digestive organs, producing such affections of the brain, may become irritable, petulant, and violent about trifles, or oppressed, morose, and desponding. Permit me, however, to add that those of the medical profession must be equally apprized that when the functions of the mind are not disturbed by such affections, it displays great energy of thought, and evidence of established character, even in death. Have we not lately heard that the last words of Nelson were: 'Tell Collingwood to bring the fleet to an anchor?' Shakspeare has also represented Mercutio continuing to jest, though he was mortally wounded; the expiring Hotspur thinking of nothing but honour, and the dying Falstaff cracking his jokes on Bardolph's nose. I request you to excuse this digression, which I have been induced to make, from perceiving that, if such facts were duly attended to, they would prompt us to a more liberal allowance for each other's conduct, under certain circumstances, than we are accustomed to do; and also incite us to the more active and constant performance of the great business of human life—the education of the mind; for, according to its knowledge and dispositions, do we possess the ability of contributing to our own welfare and comfort, and that of others[66]." [Illustration: "_The proposition is this:—I say that Local disease, injury, or irritation, may disturb the whole system, and conversely, disturbance of the whole system, may affect any part._" (_Surgical Lectures_.)] [Footnote 40: Oersted's experiments, which by some are regarded as identifying these powers, occurred in 1820, four or five years after the delivery of this Lecture.] [Footnote 41: Anatom. Lect. I, p. 51.] [Footnote 42: Anat. Lect. II, p. 62.] [Footnote 43: Ibid. p. 84.] [Footnote 44: Ibid. p. 85.] [Footnote 45: Anat. Lect. II, p. 92.] [Footnote 46: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 3. 1817.] [Footnote 47: Introd. Lect. p. 117. 1815.] [Footnote 48: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 14.] [Footnote 49: Ibid. p. 22.] [Footnote 50: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 16.] [Footnote 51: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 19.] [Footnote 52: Ibid. p. 26.] [Footnote 53: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 27.] [Footnote 54: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 37.] [Footnote 55: Physiol. Lect. I, p. 51.] [Footnote 56: Physiol. Lect. III, p. 99.] [Footnote 57: Physiol. Lect. III, p. 151.] [Footnote 58: Physiol. Lect. III, p. 152.] [Footnote 59: Physiol. Lect. IV, p. 155.] [Footnote 60: Physiol. Lect. IV, p. 164.] [Footnote 61: Physiol. Lect. V, p. 203.] [Footnote 62: Physiol. Lect. V, p. 209.] [Footnote 63: Ibid. p. 229.]