18 Philip on the Effects of dividing 



has, in the last Number of the above Journal, stated the result* 

 of the experiments lately performed at the Royal Institution. 



It appears, from the observations of that gentleman, that it 

 is admitted by all who witnessed these experiments, that after 

 the eighth pair of nerves are divided in the neck, and the lower 

 portion folded back, little, if any, progress is made in the 

 digestive process ; whereas, if the divided ends are not dis- 

 placed, its progress is still considerable. 



An interesting question here arises, whether in the latter case 

 the nervous influence is still conveyed in consequence of the 

 divided ends of the nerves remaining in actual contact, or in 

 consequence of its passing through moisture or other inter- 

 vening bodies. 



In order to determine this question, the following experiment 

 was made, in which Mr. Cutler, Assistant Surgeon to the 

 second regiment of Life Guards, had the goodness to assist me. 



A rabbit was kept without food for twenty-four hours, and 

 then allowed to eat as much parsley as it chose ; as soon as 

 it ceased to eat, the eighth pair of nerves were divided in 

 the neck, without displacing them. It was evident, both to Mr, 

 Cutler and myself, that at the moment the division of the 

 nerves was made, the ends so retracted as to cause them 

 to separate from each other to about the distance of the sixth 

 part of an inch. The animal was allowed no food after the 

 operation. It was found dead at the end of eight hours. 



On the stomach being opened, it appeared that digestion of 

 the new food had made considerable progress. The neck was 

 examined, and the divided ends of the nerves Avere found to 

 have remained at the above-mentioned distance from each other. 



This experiment was repeated in all respects in the same 

 manner. The ends of the nerves now retracted to the distance 

 of a quarter of an inch from each other on both sides. The ani- 

 mal lived about six hours, and the digestion of the new food 

 was far advanced. 



Mr. Brodie examined the state of the food and the position 

 of the divided nerves in this rabbit, and both he and Mr. Cutler, 

 allow me to state, that they are satisfied that the nervous in- 



