clxxvi Journal of Comparative Neurology. 



following extirpation of these areas in monkeys and dogs. After the 

 destruction of the centres for the various regions of the body, the 

 proper voluntary motions of these parts are forever impossible. There 

 remain only certain "common motions" arising from the common 

 reflexes and these latter experience alterations of isolation like those 

 of the reflex excitability. Certain so-called principal motions, such 

 as walking, etc., are shown to be in monkeys independent of any in- 

 dividual parts of the cortex, and even of the cortex as a whole. This, 

 it will be observed, accords with the results of Goltz, though the fact 

 is very differently interpreted by the two operators. Munk, however, 

 insists that even these motions are, to a certain extent at least, regu- 

 lated and refined by the cortical areas. 



The third paper deals largely with the muscular paralysis and 

 atrophy which follow extirpation of the cortical areas. This paralysis 

 or atrophy is not a primary effect of the destruction of the centres but 

 follows only secondarily from disuse. 



The Psychic Faculties of Decerebrated Dogs. 



The interest excited by Professor Goltz's remarkable operations 

 does not abate and the curious controversy with Professor Munk con- 

 tinues to quicken that interest. We have already presented (Vol. Ill, 

 p. xxvii) in a brief notice a few of the points of interest in Professor 

 Goltz's observations, and later (June, 1893, pp. 69-77) Dr. Edinger's 

 report upon the brain of the most interesting of these dogs. 



Professor Munk in an address before the Physiological Society of 

 Berlin last February 1 went over the ground quite thoroughly and dis- 

 cussed the conclusions reached by Professor Goltz in detail. It is urged 

 that to claim that the removal of the cortex simply diminishes, but 

 does not destroy consciousness really argues for the presence of sensa- 

 tions, affections and will in the decerebrated dog and that this is as ab- 

 surd as to insist upon such faculties in the animal whose whole 

 encephalon had been severed from the cord, by reason of the apparent- 

 ly purposive movements made by the torso when irritated. 



Taking up, now, the separate senses, Professor Goltz insists that 

 his decerebrated dogs were not blind, as they not only avoided ob- 

 stacles but would blink at a strong light. Since no other vertebrates 

 exhibit this latter phenomenon, Professor Munk questions the validity 

 of the observation. But granting the fact, the reflex may be from 



1T Jeber den Hund ohne Grosshirn. Archiv f. Anat. und Physiol., Physiol. 

 Ab., 1894, 34. 



