Flourens on the Nervous System. 427 
Effects nearly similar take place, when camphire is dissolved 
in nitric or even in acetic acid; that is to say, the camphire 
takes possession of the pure part of the acids, and leaves an- 
other portion of them with the water. 
Experiments on the Combinations of Alcohol with Oil of Tur- 
pentine. 
1. 100 parts, in volume, of volatile oil of turpentine, and 
20 parts of alcohol, mingled together, are not separable by 
repose, but form a homogeneous body. This effect is produced 
by a solution of the alcohol in the oil; for 1 part of alcohol 
cannot dissolve 5 parts of oil. : 
2. The above mixture, long and repeatedly agitated with 
water, was reduced to 108. The water thus deprived the oil 
of 12 parts of alcohol, and the oil retained 8, notwith- 
standing the long agitation which it experienced with the 
water. Oil of turpentine may therefore contain 1-12th of its 
volume of alcohol, without our being able to perceive it, if it 
be not by the specific gravity, which is a little diminished. 
However, if we repeat the lotions several times, we succeed 
eventually in removing all the alcohol from the oil. The mix- 
ture or combination of 100 parts of oil of turpentine and of 20 
parts of alcohol does not become turbid by water; but when it is 
put over water, and slightly agitated, 1 portion of the alcohol is 
seen to separate, and to form, in uniting to the water, very 
perceptible striae. 
PHYSIOLOGY. 
Analysis of the Memoir of M. Flourens, entitled Physical Re- 
searches on the Properties and Functions of the nervous System, 
in the different vertebrated Animals*. 
This Memoir is very interesting. It is composed of two 
parts; the first has for its object the determination of the pro- 
perties of the nervous system; the second, the determination of 
the part which the different portions of this system perform in 
the voluntary movements. 
According to M. Flourens, there are two properties essentially 
distinct in the nervous system; the one to excite muscular con- 
traction, the other to perceive impressions. ‘The object was to 
determine experimentally what parts of this system serve exclu- 
sively for sensation; and what on the contrary serve exclusively 
for contraction. 
It is evident, that the trial of each part could alone ascertain 
its property. M. Flourens has therefore subjected to trial, se- 
parately and in turn, the nerves, the spinal marrow, the medulla 
» Ann. de Chim. et Phys., xx. 299. 
