Literary Notices. cli 



" Chance stands for the irrelevancy as the matter at first presents 

 itself to consciousness ; necessity is the required, but partial negation 

 of this irrelevancy." 



Our separation of one side from the other, for instance, of cause 

 from effect, of means from end, gives rise to the superstition of ne- 

 cessity. We have committed the error of taking a part for the whole. 

 The idea of necessity marks only a certain stage in the development 

 of judgment. Its whole value consists in the mipulse which it gives 

 toward the 'is' in contradistinction from the ' must.' 



The Liimbo-Sacral Plexus.^ 



The above paper is a very detailed and elaborate account of the 

 root bundles and distribution of the nerves entering the plexus. Most 

 of the anatomical facts brought out are in confirmation of similar 

 work by Professor Sherrington. The plates are very clear. 



In the experimental part, the peripheral stump of a cut root 

 was first excited, then the integral fibres were separated as far as pos- 

 sible and each irritated by a minimal current. The tendons of the 

 muscles then moved being cut, the experiment was repeated to deter- 

 mine whether others remained in connection with the nerve. As a 

 control experiment, a nerve root was divided and general epilepsy 

 was induced by intravenous injection of the essential oil of absinthe, 

 and the resulting deficient participation in the fit of the limb in rela- 

 tion with the divided root or roots carefully observed. 



The first two lumbar roots did not produce movement of the 

 limb. The third produced slight flexion of the hip. 



General excitation of the 4th lumbar produced flexion of the hip, 

 adduction of the thigh and extension of the knee. The three parts 

 isolated, each produced one of the above motions. 



Stimulation of the whole 5th root caused extension of the whole" 

 limb with adduction and internal rotation of the thigh and dorsiflexion 

 of the foot. The separated fascicles reacted as follows : (i) adduc- 

 tion of the limb, (2) extension at the knee, (3) dorsiflexion of the 

 foot, (4) extension of the digits, (5) extension of the hallux. 



The 6th lumbar caused extension of the hip, and adduction and 

 outward rotation ; flexion at the knee with the foot at right angles and 

 everted at the ankle, the digits and hallux being flexed at the distal 

 phalangeal joints. The several fascicles reacted as follows: (i) ex- 



1 Russell, J. S. R. An Experimental Investigation of the Nerve Roots 

 of the Lumbo-Sacral Plexus of Macacus rhesus. Proc. Roy Soc, LIV, 327. 



