8 INTRODUCTION 



paralysis is named after the man who first described the true function 

 of the facial nerve, and that the same man showed by dissection the 

 nerves of muscle sense and described the fundamental difference 

 between the anterior and posterior roots of the spinal nerves. Bell 

 wished to be known to posterity as an anatomist, not as an experi- 

 mentalist. " Anatomy is already looked upon with prejudice by 

 the thoughtless and ignorant. Let not its professors unnecessarily 

 incur the censures of the humane." " In a foreign review of my 

 former papers the results have been considered as a further proof in 

 favour of experiments. They, are on the contrary, deductions from 

 anatomy ; and I have had recourse to experiments, not to confirm 

 my own opinions, but to impress them on others. It must be my 

 apology that my utmost efforts of persuasion were lost, while I 

 urged my statements on the ground of anatomy alone. I have 

 made few experiments ; they have been simple and easily performed, 

 and I hope are decisive." In another place he says, in favour of 

 anatomy, that " it is better adapted for discovery than experiment," 

 and illustrates his contention by comparing astronomy and chemistry 

 and considers that ' ' anatomy is more allied to the former inasmuch 

 as things are obvious." 



Another paragraph extols the work of Monro and Hunter, and 

 adds, " Let us continue to build on that structure which has been 

 commenced by their labours, and which the undeserved popularity 

 of the continental system has interrupted." " The whole history 

 of medical literature proves that no solid or permanent advantage 

 is to be gained either to medical or general science by physiological 

 experiments unconnected with anatomy." We will quote another 

 passage in full, " He who discovers a new nerve, or furnishes a 

 more accurate description of the distribution of those already known, 

 affords us information in those points which are most likely to lead 

 to an accurate knowledge of the nervous system. For if we consider 

 how various are the origins of the nerves, although all arising from 

 the brain, and how different the circumstances attending them, we 

 must suppose a variety of uses to arise out of this peculiar structure. 

 In this manner is the nervous system to be studied. For there is an 

 internal change in accordance with outward organisation, whilst 

 the system or great plan does not alter. An animal, or class of 

 animals, may have a particular organ developed, and with the 

 external apparatus there is a corresponding or an adjusted condition 

 of the appropriated nerve. Another class may be deficient in the 

 external organisation, when we shall look in vain for the accompany- 

 ing nerve ; it is contracted or hardly visible ; but with all this the 

 system is unchanged." These profound truths were written over 



