Mind and Body; or, Mental States and Physical Conditions

...to establish the means to bring about an effect. For example, if I desire a stronger flow of saliva original: "salivary secretion", the conscious act of willing this effect stimulates the unconscious will The "unconscious will" refers to the biological processes that the mind controls without our active awareness. to set the necessary physical means in motion. It is said that mothers are able to produce a more abundant flow of milk through their will, if the sight of their child arouses in them the desire to nurse. There are even people who can sweat original: "perspire" voluntarily. I now possess the power to instantly silence even the most severe hiccups original: "hiccoughs" through my own will, whereas they were previously a major source of inconvenience for me. . . . An urge to cough, which has no physical original: "mechanical" cause, can be permanently suppressed by the will. I believe we might possess much greater voluntary power over our bodily functions if we were only accustomed from childhood to conduct experiments and practice these techniques.

. . . We have arrived at the conclusion that every action of the mind on the body, without exception, is only possible by means of an unconscious will; such an unconscious will can be called forth partly by means of a conscious will, and partly also through the conscious idea of the effect, without con—