317 



1. That the vital endowments, both of sensitive and motor 

 nerves, are much modified by passing through these ganglia, — that 

 the influence of the will is not arrested by the ganglia, but is never 

 felt to be exercised, and cannot be directed downwards to any spe- 

 cific object beyond them, — perhaps only because no distinct mus- 

 cular sensations are transmitted upwards through these ganglia. 



2. That muscles which have their nerves from the ganglia of the 

 sympathetic may be affected by changes in the sensitive as well 

 as in the motor nerves which enter those ganglia ; and that the 

 structure of the sympathetic nerve is fitted for concentrating on 

 these involuntary muscles what the author terms Sensorial In- 

 Jluence, as distinguished from the effect of Volition ; i. e. the influ- 

 ence of those changes in the nervous system which attend sensa- 

 tions and emotions of mind, and which obviously extend much 

 more generally over the spinal cord and nerves than the effects of 

 volition do. 



Secondly, This part of the paper stated the appropriation of 

 nerves of the fifth pair to the lachrymal gland, and the effects of 

 section of that nerve on the nutrition of the eyeball, as clear 

 proof, that those sensations and emotions of mind which affect 

 the secretions and nutrition of the body, act downwards through 

 the nerves of common sensation. The supposition of Miiller and 

 others, that the grey fibres of nervous matter are those destined 

 to affect these organic functions exclusively, he regards as hy- 

 pothetical, and opposed by pathological facts ; but he assents to 

 the opinion of Dr Marshall Hall, that it is probably with a view 

 to the influence of emotion and sensation, passing doivnivards 

 along the nerves of common sensation, that the ganglia are formed 

 on the roots of those nerves. 



The Secretary stated the substance of a communication by 

 Mr Atkinson, on the subject of Rain-Gauges ; and of 

 another on an Instrument for Measuring the force of 

 Winds. 



The following Gentlemen were duly elected Ordinary Fellows 

 of the Society : — 



J. P. Muirhead, Esq. 

 James Hunter, M .D. 

 Colonel Morison, C.B. Madras Artillery. 



The following Donations were presented : — 

 Bericht iiber die zur Bekanntmachung geeigneten Verhandlun 



