Broughton on the Nerves. 321 



ments, and nervous-galvanic theory. And accordingly while 

 the great man is employed in grappling with " the grown 

 serpent*," it naturally falls to the disciple's charge to deal 

 with the " insolent worm," who presumes to turn upon his 

 Master's doctrine. 



The authorities which I quoted were merely intended to 

 exhibit a general view of what is known, relative to the influ- 

 ence of the par vagum in the animal economy, and whether it 

 made for, or against me, was a matter of indifference, as I had 

 no object to serve, but that of submitting truth to the test of 

 experiment, upon a point which seems never till of late, to have 

 been particularly inquired into, though often noticed collaterally. 

 That the result of my observations is not at variance with those 

 quoted, (as Dr. Hastings asserts it to be,) no unbiassed reader 

 can fail to perceive, from the very apparent circumstances of 

 the variety of accounts given of the effects of dividing the eighth 

 pair of Nerves, and the express opinion of Le Gallois, that, 

 though the most obviously urgent symptom is often the affec- 

 tion of the stomach, yet he found the disturbance of its func- 

 tions extremely variable in degree in different species of animals, 

 and at different ages, and even in the same species of animals. 

 Dr. Hastings endeavours to shew that Le Gallois does not 

 favour the idea of the disturbance of the stomach arising from 

 that of the lungs. But, it will be found on reference, that he 

 particularly asserts it to be his opinion, that the affection of the 

 stomach is a secondary effect, not constant, and variable in 

 degree, (excepting efforts to vomit, which always occur from the 

 first shock of the operation,) and that that of the thoracic viscera 

 is constant, and by its influence on the circulation reduces the 

 functions of life to a state which finally renders them incapable 

 of continuance. So much for my being " contradicted by all 

 former and cotemporary experience," and, that " no fact is 

 better made out, than that the gastric secretions immediately 

 cease on dividing the par vagum in the neck universally." 



Among our cotemporaries, I am accused of omitting the 



• See the controversy between Dr. Wilson Philip, and Dr. Alison. 



