82 Dr. Wilson Philip 



not long exist after respiration ceases, because the blood then 

 no longer undergoes the necessary change in the lungs ; but 

 we still find them /or some time remaining in every part of the 

 system ; and, if respiration be artificially supported, imperfectly 

 as it is in our power to effect this, we can perceive unequivocal 

 proofs of the continuance of all the functions of the nervous, as 

 well as muscular power, except of course that it can no longer 

 impress the sensorium, nor receive impressions from it where 

 no sensorium exists *. It gives evidence of its power still to 

 convey impressions along the nerves, however, by its still con- 

 veying those which excite the muscles. 



Such is the foundation for the division which I have adopted 

 of the functions of the animal body into sensorial, nervous, and 

 muscular ; and unless the facts here referred to can be contro- 

 verted, I cannot perceive how it is possible to deny, that each of 

 these classes of functions is supported by a power which may 

 exist separately, and consequently can have no direct dependence 

 on the powers which support the others. 



It appears from what has been said, that the circumstances 

 which form the line of distinction between the sensorial and ner- 

 vous functions may be referred to three heads : 1st, The latter 

 still continuing in the newly dead animal. '2d, Their being such 

 as either evidently are, or may be, the effects of a chemical agent, 

 while the sensorial functions have nothing in common with the 

 effects of such an agent; and lastly, the sensorial power being 

 subject to intervals of inactivity in the healthy animal, while the 

 vigour of the nervous power is permanent. It is true, that two 

 of the functions of this power have intervals of rest, namely, 

 those of conveying impressions to and from the sensorium, and 

 of exciting the muscles ; but they only suffer these interval, 

 because they are operations of the sensorial and nervous powers 

 jointly, and consequently fail when either of these powers 

 fails. Those nervous functions which depend on the ganglian 

 system, tlie formation of the secreted fluids, and the evolution 



* Expfer. 61, Q'^, 63, 64, 65, GG, 67, 68, 6y. 



