$10 On the Nervous Sysiems of 
that the powers of sensation and voluntary mo- 
tion were derived from the nerves independently 
of the brain, and in the other case, independently 
both of the brain and spinal marrow, 
But what shall we say of the monster, described 
by Dr. Clarke in the Philosophical Transactions ? 
The Dr. is a good anatomist and appears to have 
dissected this rude mass with great care and at- 
tention, yet he could not discover a single nerve, 
By a nerve, strictly speaking, is understeod a 
continuation of the substances of the brain, or 
spinal marrow, wrapped in its proper membrane. 
By nervous matter I understand the substances 
of the brain, spinal marrow, or nerves, separate 
from their proper membranes. Now, shall we 
suppose that in this being no nerves, or nervous 
Matter existed? Or, shall we suppose, that 
there were nerves, or nervous matter, but dis- 
tributed in such a manner as to elude Dr. Clarke’s 
| observation, and that the limited powers, pos- 
sessed by this rude animal production during its 
life, were ascribable to nervous influence? 
I am inclined to adopt the latter opinion, for 
the following reasons. 
1. Nervous and muscular fibrils may be de- 
: tected by magnifying glasses in parts, where they 
can not otherwise be perceived, and it does not 
appear, that Dr. Clarke availed himself of any 
“Instrument of this kind in his search for nerves, 
