Vril, or Vital Magnetism

...must be maintained, or else the sensation is not felt. An injury to the cerebrum original: "cerebrum"; the largest part of the brain, responsible for complex sensory functions and the initiation of voluntary activity. impairs the faculties of thought and memory. Because of this and other reasons, science knows that the cerebrum is the part of the brain most closely related to consciousness and intelligence.

However, its quality and functions vary significantly across its different areas. The “cortex” original: "cortex"; the outer layer of the cerebrum, which plays a key role in memory, attention, and thought.—the thin rind or outer covering of gray matter original: "gray matter"; the darker tissue of the brain and spinal cord, consisting mainly of nerve cell bodies.—is considered the seat of intellectual activity and consciousness. Furthermore, there exists within the cerebrum what is known as the “localization of functions.” This means that certain parts or areas of the cerebrum are dedicated to specific functional activities.

For instance, there is the “motor zone,” from which orders are sent out to transmit Vril original: "Vril"; here used to describe a vital life force or nerve energy that the author believes powers the body's movements. to move any part of the body. Science has located these zones so definitely that “it is possible for a surgeon to find the small center which moves the vocal cords, directs a thumb, or winks an eye.” Then there are the “sensory tracts,” which receive impressions from the senses. These various sense centers have been located with a surprising degree of accuracy. Science has not yet succeeded in mapping the intellectual areas definitely, although phrenology original: "phrenology"; a popular 19th-century theory that a person's character and mental faculties could be determined by the shape of their skull. has made some progress in that direction.

The spinal cord is a continuation of the brain, and the two together form parts of the same system. The spinal cord occupies the canal in the center of the spinal column, or “backbone.” It is composed of both gray matter and white matter original: "white matter"; nerve tissue composed of fibers that connect different parts of the gray matter to each other.. It is almost separated into two parts by fissures, but a ridge of connecting nerve matter always remains, looking something like the horizontal bar in the letter H.

From the spinal cord emerge thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves, branching out from either side of the cord. Each nerve has two roots: an anterior original: "anterior"; the front-facing root, primarily responsible for motor signals. (front) root and a posterior original: "posterior"; the back-facing root, primarily responsible for sensory signals. (back) root. An authority explains the functions of these nerves and roots as follows:

“If the foot were pricked, the sensory impulse original: "sensory impulse"; the electrical signal sent from a sense organ to the central nervous system. would enter the spinal cord through the posterior root. The spinal ganglia original: "spinal ganglia"; clusters of nerve cells that act as relay points for signals. would then release a motor impulse, which would travel to the foot through the anterior root of the nerve. If the posterior root of the nerve supply to the foot were cut, the foot might be crushed without any sensation of pain, but a motor impulse could still be sent to move it as before. However, if the anterior (or motor) root were cut, the application of a hot iron...”