nstitutes the surface of the
cerebrum, and also the surface of the corpora striata, from which
proceeds the medulla oblongata; it also constitutes the middle of the
cerebellum, and the middle of the spinal marrow. But medullary or
fibrillary substance everywhere begins in and proceeds from the cortical;
out of it nerves arise, and from them all things of the body. That this
is true is proved by dissection. They who know these things, either from
the study of anatomical science or from the testimony of those who are
skilled in the science, can see that the first principles of life are in
the same place as the beginnings of the fibers, and that fibers cannot
go forth from themselves, but must go forth from first principles. These
first principles, that is, beginnings, which appear as little glands,
are almost countless; their multitude may be compared to the multitude
of stars in the universe; and the multitude of fibrils coming out of them
may be compared to the multitude of rays going forth from the stars and
bearing their heat and light to the earth. The multitude of these little
glands may also be compared to the multitude of angelic societies in the
heavens, which also are countless, and, I have been told, are in like
order as the glands. Also the multitude of fibrils going out from these
little glands may be compared to the spiritual truths and goods which in
like manner flow down from the angelic societies like rays. From this it
is that man is like a universe, and like a heaven in least form (as has
been frequently said and shown above). From all which it can now be seen
that such as life is in first principles, such it is in derivatives; or
such as it is in its firsts in the brains, such it is in the things
arising therefrom in the body.

367. (4) By means of first principles life is in the whole from every
part, and in every part from the whole. This is because the whole, which
is the brain and the body together, is originally made up of nothing but
fibers proceeding from their first principles in the brains. It has no
other origin, as is evident from what has been shown just above (n. 366);
consequently, the whole is from every part; and by means of these first
principles life is in every part from the whole, because the whole
dispenses to each part its task and needs, thereby making it to be a part
in the whole. In a word, the whole has existence from the parts, and the
parts have permanent existence from the w