45 



Art. VII. Observations on the Effect of dividing the Eighth 

 Fair of Nerves — communicated in a Letter to the Editor 

 of the Quarterly Journal of the Royal Institution, by 

 Charles Hastings, M. D., Physician to the Worcester 

 Infirmary, ^c. 



Sir, 



The division of the eighth pair of nerves is one of the oldest 

 physiological experiments ; and a reference to medical writings 

 shews, that the effects produced by it on the animal system 

 have been the subject of frequent discussion. Among our con- 

 temporaries, especially, it has excited considerable interest ; 

 and the apparent connexion of the most important vital func- 

 tions with these nerves, has given birth to various speculations. 

 Of these it is not my intention to give any detail. The object 

 I have in view being to bring before the reader some facts, shew- 

 ing the dependance of the digestive power of the stomach on 

 these nerves. 



My attention has been more particularly directed to this sub- 

 ject by a writer who has recently occupied several pages of your 

 Journal, in endeavouring to prove, that the division of the eighth 

 pair of nerves is not necessarily followed by an immediate ces- 

 sation of digestion ; but, on the contrary, that digestion con- 

 tinues after the division of these nerves, so long as the animal 

 is otherwise in a condition to digest *. The above conclusion 

 Mr. Broughton derives from a series of experiments, and de- 

 clares, that, from a general review of the testimony of former 

 authorities, he cannot perceive that the conclusion to which his 

 experiments have brought him essentially differs from past ex- 

 perience ; though it is absolutely at variance, in a most im- 

 portant point, with that of Dr. Wilson Philip and his sup- 

 porters f. 



It is somewhat singular that Mr. Broughton, after having so 

 carefully studied, as he seems to have done, the testimony of 



* See Journal of Science and the Arts, No. XX. page 308. 

 t Ibid. pa^eSlO. 



