78 THIRD REPORT 1833. 



ends not connected with the medulla, produced no apparent 

 effects ; though the galvanic fluid directed upon either order 

 of roots gave rise to muscular contractions. These were more 

 complete and energetic when the anterior roots were the sub- 

 jects of the experiment. 



Besides the evidence thus obtained by direct experiments on 

 living animals, several important facts have been gathered from 

 the pathology of the nervous system in man. These consist of 

 cases of insulated paralysis of either motion or feeling, referred 

 to the changes in structure observed after death. Sir Charles 

 Bell has himself recorded several examples of this kind strongly 

 confirming his experimental results ; and others of similar ten- 

 dency are scattered through the successive volumes of Magen- 

 die's Journal *. But it must be admitted, that evidence of this 

 kind is seldom distinct and conclusive. The structural changes, 

 induced by disease, are rarely so circumscribed in seat and 

 extent as to represent adequately the operations of the scalpel; 

 and often when they are thus isolated within anatomical bound- 

 ing lines, they affect, by pressure, or by the spread of the same 

 morbid process, in a degree too slight to leave decided traces, 

 the functions of contiguous parts, thus clouding the judgments 

 of the best pathologists, and invalidating their inferences. 

 There is, however, a very remarkable case described by Pro- 

 fessor Royer Collard, to which these objections do not apply. 

 Sprevale, an invalided soldier, was upwards of seventeen years 

 the subject of medical observation in the Maison de Sante of 

 Charenton. This individual remained for the last seven years 

 of his life with the legs and thighs permanently crossed, and 

 totally incapable of motion, though retaining their sensibility. 

 On opening after death the spinal canal, there was found the 

 pultaceous softening {ramollissement) of the whole anterior part 

 of the medulla, and of almost the whole of the fibrous cords 

 which form it. The anterior roots of the spinal nerves had 

 also lost their accustomed consistency; while the posterior sur- 

 face of the spinal cord, and its investing membrane, were healthy. 

 Several of the cases observed by Sir Charles Bell furnish also 

 unequivocal proof of the soundness of the views developed by 

 experiment. 



There exist, indeed, few truths in physiology established 

 on so wide and solid a basis of experimental reseai'ch and pa- 

 thological observation, as those deduced by Sir Charles Bell, 

 the original discoverer, and by Magendie, his successor in the 

 path of inquiry, respecting the offices of the spinal medulla. 



* See in particular Dr. Rullier's case, torn. iii. p. 1 73 ; and Dr. KorefTs, 

 toin. iv. p. 376. 



