88 SCIENCE PROGRESS 



and the posterior root are senso^. But this correct account is 

 a consequence of Magendie's work of 1822. 



If only this introduction had been written in 1821, we should 

 unhesitatingly have accepted Charles Bell as the author of a 

 great and far-reaching discovery. But it was written in 1824; 

 it incorporates Magendie's discoveries of 1822 on the roots and 

 of 1823 on the columns. Whilst he is not named, Magendie is 

 clearly enough indicated. Bell's plagiarism at the expense of 

 Magendie is glaring. 



At pp. 40-41 of his Exposition of 1824 he says : 



" I have now only to add, that these opinions and experi- 

 ments have been followed up to the satisfaction of all Europe. 

 It has been acknowledged that the anterior roots of the spinal 

 nerves bestow the power of muscular motion ; and the posterior 

 root9 sensibility. When the anterior roots of the nerves of the 

 leg are cut in experiment, the animal loses all power over 

 the leg, although the limb still continues sensible. But if, on 

 the other hand, the posterior roots are cut, the power of motion 

 continues, although the sensibility is destroyed. When the 

 posterior column of the spinal marrow is irritated the animal 

 evinces sensibility to pain ; but no apparent effect is produced 

 when the anterior column is touched." 



We have seen above what Magendie had said of the roots 

 in 1822. In the Journal de P/rysiologie, vol. iii. 1823, p. 153, he 

 had expressed himself as follows about the columns : 



" Sur le siege du mouvement et du sentiment dans la Moelle 

 Epiniere. — Les experiences que j'ai publiees sur les fonctions des 

 racines des nerfs spinaux, et qui montrent que les anterieures 

 sont destinees au mouvement, tandis que les posterieures ap- 

 partiennent au sentiment, conduisaient naturellement a examiner 

 si les cotes anterieurs et posterieurs de la moelle epiniere ne 

 seraient point en rapport de proprietes avec les filets nerveux. 

 Le fait confirme ici la conjecture ; si on met a nu la moelle dans 

 un point quelconque de sa longueur, et si on £ la touche ou la 

 pique doucement en arriere, sur les deux cordons places entre 

 les racines posterieures, l'animal donne des signes dune ex- 

 quise sensibilite ; si, au contraire, on fait les memes tentatives 

 sur lar partie anterieure, les indices de sensibilite sont a peine 

 visibles." 



Bell's drafting of this passage is characteristic both as regards 

 its magniloquence and its indirectness. The phrase " It has 

 been acknowledged " implies that the facts had been previously 



