Broughton on the 'Nerves. 325 



otherwise become as interminable, as it is to all appearance, 



useless to the cause of science. 



I remain, dear Sir, yours, §-c. 



S. D. Broughton. 



Great Marlborough-St., 

 April 1821. 



P.S. — Since the above letter has lain at the Publisher's, I 

 have been gratified by a personal acquaintance with Dr. Wilson 

 Philip ; who, with a degree of zeal unrivalled, and candour 

 worthy of imitation in others, has been occupied of late in 

 retracing the ground formerly trodden ; for the purpose of 

 settling the doubts cast upon his alleged results, to the satis- 

 faction (if possible) of all parties. How far this desirable end 

 is attained, the following notice will shew. 



After the usual fasting, and subsequent feeding with parsley, 

 the eighth pair of nerves were divided in the necks of three 

 rabbits. One was submitted to the galvanic influence, after 

 the usual manner of Dr. Philip, and the other two were left 

 to themselves. After a few hours the two latter were succes- 

 sively killed, and in both digestion was perfect. The galvanised 

 rabbit was then destroyed, and in the stomach of this animal 

 the parsley had undergone very little alteration. I may add, 

 with respect to the respiration of the latter rabbit, that, 

 though there was a difference more or less observable at times' 

 in its breathing, yet, that it did not continue throughout the 

 experiment to breathe freely and naturally. Whatever differ- 

 ence was observable was in favour of the galvanic influence,' 

 which was occasionally interrupted for a time. 



Dr. Wilson Philip acknowledged (in the most candid manner,) 

 this results of these experiments, so contrary to his alleged 

 constant experience, and felt himself called upon to persevere 

 in his endeavours, to ascertain the cause of such a striking 

 diflference between these and Dr. Hastings' results. Several 

 rabbits were subsequently operated upon, in the usual manner, 

 with one exception, and that, it appears, a most important one. 

 The nerves being divided, pains were taken to keep their 

 extremities asunder, so as entirely to prevent any contact 



Vol. XI. Z 



