s more frequently forgotten, than
those which are composed of reiterated circles, according with the eleventh
preceding article.

12. To finish our example with the preceding articles we must at length
suppose, that our fair performer falls asleep over her harpsichord; and
thus by the suspension of volition, and the exclusion of external stimuli,
she dissevers the trains and circles of her musical exertions.

III. 1. Many of these circumstances of catenations of motions receive an
easy explanation from the four following consequences to the seventh law of
animal causation in Sect. IV. These are, first, that those successions or
combinations of animal motions, whether they were united by causation,
association, or catenation, which have been most frequently repeated,
acquire the strongest connection. Secondly, that of these, those, which
have been less frequently mixed with other trains or tribes of motion, have
the strongest connection. Thirdly, that of these, those, which were first
formed, have the strongest connection. Fourthly, that if an animal motion
be excited by more than one causation, association, or catenation, at the
same time, it will be performed with greater energy.

2. Hence also we understand, why the catenations of irritative motions are
more strongly connected than those of the other classes, where the quantity
of unmixed repetition has been equal; because they were first formed. Such
are those of the secerning and absorbent systems of vessels, where the
action of the gland produces a fluid, which stimulates the mouths of its
correspondent absorbents. The associated motions seem to be the next most
strongly united, from their frequent repetition; and where both these
circumstances unite, as in the vital motions, their catenations are
indissoluble but by the destruction of the animal.

3. Where a new link has been introduced into a circle of actions by some
accidental defect of stimulus; if that defect of stimulus be repeated at
the same part of the circle a second or a third time, the defective motions
thus produced, both by the repeated defect of stimulus and by their
catenation with the parts of the circle of actions, will be performed with
less and less energy. Thus if any person is exposed to cold at a certain
hour to-day, so long as to render some part of the system for a time
torpid; and is again exposed to it at the same hour to-morrow, and the next
day; he will be more and more affected by i