The Pedestrian's Record

8 the pedestrian's record. his back to a stove ; by accident his hand comes in contact with a hot bar, he burns his hand, and cannot remove the injured part until the brain has been com­ municated with, and put in motion that portion of the locomotive system which alone can remove the hand from its unpleasant position ; this is called reflex action. The brain can protect the body from accident likely to occur from surrounding objects, but when not on the alert or engaged in thought, such as happens when a person is engaged in conversation, then injury sometimes results. As an example, a woman is talking to a friend close to a fire-place, her person being surrounded by a wide-spreading gown. The brain during conversation never has an oppor­ tunity to take cognizance of the existence of the gown ; its too widely manufactured skirt catches the flame, and the dress is quickly reduced to ashes. The nude figureover which the brain directly presidescould not come to mischief so readily; the too close approxi­ mation to the fire would soon be indicated by even too great heat, when the brain would call upon the motory nerves to remove the body to a place of safety. The brain generates ideas and gives orders to the nerves, which being distributed to every muscle of the animal frame, call into effect those actions and motions which are brought into requi­ sition as necessity or pleasure dictates. The sym­ pathetic system of nerves are equally under brain control, and have special functions to perform, which, during day and night, and from year's end to year's