on the Agency of Galvanism. 77 



peded, and their fluids accumulating in the air-cells and bronchise 

 till they produce suffocation, as happens where these organs are 

 deprived of their nervous influence by dividing their nerves, we 

 find the galvanic power restoring their free action, and main- 

 taining it as long as sufficient sensorial power remains to enable 

 the patient to inhale with sufficient frequency for the performance 

 of the functions of respiration*. In other instances, we see the 

 same agent restoring due action to the digestive organs, as well 

 as to the lungs, where we have reason to believe a failure of their 

 nervous influence had produced disease f. 



If such be the facts, it will be difficult to deny ihe identity of 

 the nervous influence and galvanism, unless it can be shewn that 

 the latter possesses some property inconsistent with the nature of 

 the former. Should this be found to be the case, would it not be 

 extraordinary that a power, wholly distinct from the nervous in- 

 fluence, should be capable even of its most complicated functions? 

 How anomalous would this fact appear ! Is it possible to find any 

 thing analogous to it in any other department of knowledge ? 

 But this is far from being the case. The more we study the pheno- 

 mena of the nervous influence and galvanismjthe more strikingthe 

 analogy between them appears. We see in the animal economy a 

 constant succession of the most complicated chemical changes. 

 Why should it surprise us, that what appears from every fact on 

 the subject to be the most powerful of all chemical agents which we 

 know to be universally diffused, and which, it must be allowed, 

 many observations led us to believe intimately connected with the 

 animal economy, should be the agent in these changes ? 



Were it not for opinions unaccountably ascribed to me, I 

 should think it superfluous to add, that I have never regarded 

 galvanism as having any thing in common with the sensorial 

 and vital powers, as I have explained in the first, and still more 

 fully in the second edition of my Inquiry. I only maintained, 

 that we have reason to believe that the nervous influence which 

 I had, with much pains, and the assistance of many experiments, 

 attempted to define, shewing that it survives the sensorial power, 



• Sec the first chapter of the third part of the above Inqiiiri/. 

 t See the fifth chapter of the thinl part of (lie ahovc Inquiry. 



