This was the vital
spirit; the animal spirit was elaborated in the brain, chiefly in the
ventricles, and sent by the nerves to all parts of the body, endowing
the individual with life and perception and motion. In this way a great
division was made between the two functions of the body, and two sets
of organs: in the vascular system, the heart and arteries and abdominal
organs, life was controlled by the vital spirits; on the other hand,
in the nervous system were elaborated the animal spirits, controlling
motion, sensation and the various special senses. These views on the
vital and animal spirits held unquestioned sway until well into the
eighteenth century, and we still, in a measure, express the views of the
great Alexandrian when we speak of "high" or "low" spirits.
GALEN
PERGAMON has become little more than a name associated in our memory
with the fulminations of St. John against the seven churches of Asia;
and on hearing the chapter read, we wondered what was "Satan's seat" and
who were the "Nicolaitanes" whose doctrine he so hated. Renewed interest
has been aroused in the story of its growth and of its intellectual
rivalry with Alexandria since the wonderful discoveries by German
archaeologists which have enabled us actually to see this great Ionian
capital, and even the "seat of Satan.
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