36 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



the capillary vessels. Then with reference to the cornea, where we 

 had a beautiful example of nervous structure; nerves existed there 

 probably for the purpose of preventing the entrance of blood into its 

 structure. Since it had not been demonstrated that there was contractile 

 power in capillary vessels, it was reasonable to sujipose that the nerves 

 acted in the manner indicated by Dr. Beale. 



Dr. Leared asked whether Dr. Beale had extended his observations 

 to the minute vessels of the brain, and whether he had been able to 

 make any deductions in regard to the ordinary but not satisfactorily 

 exjilained phenomenon of sleep. , He thought Dr. Beale's views would 

 throw great light upon the question of sleep, and also as to the action 

 of certain drugs, such as bromide of potassium (which probably con- 

 sisted in their power of controlling the cerebral circulation), found so 

 effectual in restraining ejiilepsy and allied affections. 



Dr. Beale, in answer to Dr. Leared, said he had not been able to 

 demonstrate conclusively the existence of nervous fibres in connection 

 with the capillary vessels in the brain, up to the present time. He 

 thought the turtle's brain would be the best one to study with reference 

 to this question. 



Dr. Beale then said, with regard to the remark of Mr. Hogg as to 

 the direct action of the nerves on the capillaries, that in his opinion 

 it was doubtful if nerves acted directly upon capillaries, or upon the 

 elementary cells of secreting glands. He should explain the action 

 as reflex. It would be difficult to account for direct influences imtil 

 some theory had been projioimded to explain the way in which the 

 nerves might be supj)osed to act upon cells and non-contractile tissues. 

 He did not see how we could admit the doctrine. 



The remarks made by Dr. Berkart concerning Eckard's observa- 

 tions on the salivary glands were to the point, but he thought that, 

 after all, change might be due to the influence exerted by the nerve 

 fibres in the small arteries. He did not think any explanation yet 

 ofiered wholly satisfactory. 



Dr. Murie had in the course of his remarks advanced the opinion 

 that many nerve organs were like electrical apparatus, and in this 

 opinion he fully concurred. He (Dr. B.) differed from many of those 

 who brought forward hypotheses of nervous action, and he was quite 

 prepared to admit that nervous action generally might be really 

 electrical action. Admitting this, however, it must be borne in mind, 

 that there was a great difierence between the electrical machine and 

 the nerve machine of the organism. The first was made by man, tlje 

 other made itself, or was evolved as the saying was. He thought 

 Dr. Murie quite correct in the argument he had adduced with regard 

 to the structure of nerve organs being like the battery of the torpedo. 

 Many other animals possessed forms of apj)aratus which undoubtedly 

 did produce electricity in the organism, and it was only reasonable 

 to infer that other forms of apparatus exhibiting the same type of 

 structure produced electricity in smaller amount. The way in which 

 the circulation was carried on was very much the same in the highest 

 as in the lowest animal ; and so it was probable that with regard to 

 the distribution of the nerves a general agreement in fundamental 



