670 FOURTH REPORT — 1834. 



of knoAvledge obtained by the former methods ; 5th, By com- 

 parative anatomy, the most satisfactory of all the modes by 

 which the apparent confusion of the nerves of the human body 

 were to be um-avelled and systematized. Sir Charles Bell then 

 gave a short account of his paper about to be published by the 

 Royal Society, in which he has followed out the relations be- 

 tween the cerebrum and the sensitive and motor nerves ; and 

 where he has distinguished two portions of the crus cerebri, one 

 descending anteriorly to the transverse septum of the pons, the 

 other posteriorly to that septum ; the anterior relating to the 

 nerves of motion, the posterior to the nerves of sensation : and 

 he proceeded in some detail to show that any attempt to explain 

 the most familiar symptoms of disease in the brain must be 

 imperfect without the knowledge of these facts. 



On the interest and importance to the Medical Profession of 

 the study of Mental Philosophy. By Dr. Abercrombie. 



The remarks on this subject were delivered in a closing ad- 

 dress to the Medical Section. Dr. Abercrombie said he was 

 aware of the objections which had been brought against admit- 

 ting the philosophy of mind as one of the regular sections of 

 the Association ; and to a considerable extent he admitted their 

 truth, as it might be difficult to preserve such discussions from 

 those hypothetical speculations by which this important science 

 had been so much obscured and retarded in its progress. But 

 by treating it as a branch of physiology, he trusted this might 

 be avoided, by rigidly restricting the investigation to a careful 

 observation of facts, and the purposes of high practical utility 

 to which they might be applied. Keeping in view the importance 

 of these rules, he earnestly recommended the subject to medical 

 inquirers, as capable of being cultivated on strict philosophical 

 principles as a science of observation, and as likely to yield 

 laws, principles, or universal facts, which might be ascertained 

 with the same precision as the laws of physical science. For 

 this purpose, however, inquirers must abstain from all vain 

 speculations respecting the nature and essence of mind, or the 

 mode of its communication with external things, and must con- 

 fine themselves to a simple and careful study of its operations. 



Respecting the means of cultivating the philosophy of mind 

 as a science of rigid observation. Dr. Abercrombie alluded to 

 the study of mental pha;nomena and mental habits in ourselves 

 and in other men ; the Avhole phaenomena of dreaming, insa- 

 nity, and delirium ; and the mental conditions which occur 

 in connexion with diseases and injuries of the brain. The sub- 



