274 Dr. A. P. W. Philip on the 



only no change in it could have influenced the flow of secreted 

 fluids, but every occasional increase of the influence of the 

 nervous system, supplied to secreting surfaces, finding no in- 

 crease of fluids to act upon, would necessarily have excited 

 disease. Thus, it is requisite that the power of the sangui- 

 ferous should be independent of the nervous system, yet ca- 

 pable of being influenced by it; as from direct experiment, 

 we have just seen, it is found to be. 



The secreting processes are constantly attended with a tem- 

 perature considerably raised above that of the surrounding me- 

 dium. Does this also depend on a function of the nervous system? 



It appears, from experiments above referred to, that the de- 

 struction of any considerable portion of the spinal marrow, 

 deranges the function of secreting surfaces. Together with this 

 effect, it was always found to lessen the temperature of the ani- 

 mal, more or less, according to the extent and importance of 

 the part destroyed*. Some years previously, Mr. Brodie, in 

 the Croonian Lecture for 1810, gave an account of experiments 

 which led to the inference, that the maintenance of animal 

 temperature is under the influence of the nervous system, and 

 in the Philosophical Transactions of 1812, he relates additional 

 experiments, tending to strengthen this inference. The experi- 

 ments related in the inquiry just referred to, seem in a striding 

 manner to confirm the opinion of Mr. Brodie. He found that 

 poisons impairing the vigour of the nervous system, impair the 

 temperature. It appears from my experiments, that lessening 

 the extent of this system, by destroying part of the spinal mar- 

 row, has the same effect. 



Thus, it follows, that the temperature of the animal body 

 depends on the state of the nervous system ; but many observa- 

 tions point out that it depends also on that of the powers of cir- 

 culation. When the power of the heart and vessels is greatly 

 impaired, so that the motion of the blood languishes, the tem- 

 perature falls. If by exercise, or the use of stimulants, we in- 

 crease the action of the heart and vessels, the temperature in 



* Exper. lurjiiiry, {)• 161, el seq., second edition. 



