LECTUKE III. 



THE CENTRIFUGAL (EFFERENT) NERVES OF THE 

 GASTRIC GLANDS AND OF THE PANCREAS. 



Karlier experiments upon the influence of section and excitation of the 

 vagi nerves on the gastric glands The gastric glands can be excited by 

 remote influences The sham-feeding experiment Repetition of the same 

 after division of the vagi The latter convey secretory fibres to the gastric 

 glands This is proved by excitation of the vagus nerve in two different 

 forms of experiment The vagus is the secretory nerve of the pancreas 

 (experiment) It also conveys inhibitory influences to the foregoing 

 glands These depend upon the activity of inhibitory nerves of secretion. 



GENTLEMEN, On the last occasion we were occupied with wearisome 

 figures and curves, which, however, have taught us an extremely 

 interesting lesson. It was made evident that the gastric and pancreatic 

 glands have what we may call a form of instinct. They pour out 

 their juice in a manner which exactly corresponds, both qualitatively 

 and quantitatively, to the amount and kind of food partaken of. 

 Moreover, they secrete precisely that quality of fluid which is most 

 advantageous for the digestion of the meal. We naturally ask our- 

 selves at once, by what means is this made possible ? On what does 

 this apparent instinct of the glands depend and in what does it consist ? 

 A probable answer to this question is easily given, and naturally an 

 explanation of the adaptability of the glands is above all to be sought 

 for in their innervation. It is only when such supposition proves itself 

 to be untenable that we must seek for another. We will therefore 

 concern ourselves in the present lecture with a study of the influence 

 which the nervous system exerts upon the activity of the gastric glands 

 and the pancreas. 



It is appropriate that I should mention by way of introduction, that 

 the widely renowned physiologist of Leipzig, the late Professor Carl 

 Ludwig,* was able to prove by a classic experiment, no less than forty-five 

 years agothat the salivary glands possess a special nervewhich immediately 



* Zt'itxchrijt fiif rat. Mrdizln, N.F., i. 1S.11. 



