]' Illl. \KKVnis SYSTEM AND ITS CONSERVATION 



way from the stomach to the heart, nor from one hand 

 to the other. Vet the stomach may influence the heart, 

 the central part of the mechanism transmitting the effect. 

 The fundamental plan of the structure involved is that of 

 a tree, and just as an ant cannot pass from one of the 

 main branches to another without visiting the trunk. 30 

 all physiologic reactions employ a central link. 



i 'oordination implies order, efficiency, and timeline 

 in the operation of a machine. These desirable qualities 

 could not be realized in the living machine if it were not 

 for the nervou- system. Coordination is akin to coupera- 

 ti'nn, and the purposeful working together of all the parts 

 for the advantage of the whole is accomplished through 

 the aid of nerves and nerve-centers. A word which is now 

 frequently heard in this connection is inlet/ration. The 

 nervou.- -y-tem may be said to confer integrity upon the 

 organism. This is to say thai the unity or oneness of the 

 animal is almost wholly dependent upon this feature. 

 It i- not entirely so, for we are realizing more and more 

 that chemical product- pa ing from organ to organ have 

 much to do with the coordinating of activities. If the 

 nervous tissue- could be instantly eliminated from the 

 body of a dog without doing other injury, the life proc- 

 - would not immediately cease, but they would be- 

 come local and partial. They could no longer be com- 

 bined to the advantage of the animal. The nervous sys- 

 tem confers upon the associated tissues the right to rank 

 :i- :in intliriihinl. 



It i- -carcely po>sible to Use the word "individual" 

 \\ithout introducing the idea of a sell'-conscioii- being. 

 < Mie'- own nervous system is, in part, demonstrated to 

 HIM- through per-onal con-ciou-ne--. This is the field of 

 p-ychology. The physiologist is more properly a student 

 of the objective than the subjective, and he is occupied 

 for the mo-t part with observing the reactions mediated 

 by nervou- systems other than hi- own. Vet it may be 

 chimed that there i- a considerable borderland common 

 to the two branches of science within which it behooves 



