450 Analyses o/'Mv. C. Bell's Papers en the Nerves. 



as, by such destruction of its substance, the original ganglia, 

 which form a series along the spine, must have been hurt ; 

 the track of nervous matter which gives rise to the nerves of 

 sensation : that also which gives roots to the nerves of volun- 

 tary motion ; and the lateral column connected with the of- 

 fices of respiration, must all have been destroyed by such coarse 

 experiments. It cannot surprise us that the results were ob- 

 scure and contradictory. 



" But the most extravagant departure from all the legitimate 

 modes of reasoning, although still under the colour of anato- 

 mical investigation, is the system of Dr. Gall. It is sufficient 

 to say, that without comprehending the grand divisions of the 

 nervous system, without a notion of the distinct properties of 

 the individual nerves, or having made any distinction of the co- 

 lumns of the spinal marrow, without even having ascertained 

 the difference of cerebrum and cerebellum, Gall proceeded to 

 describe the brain as composed of many particular and inde- 

 pendent organs, and to assign to each the residence of some 

 special faculty. 



" When the popularity of these doctrines is considered, it 

 may easily be conceived how difficult it has been, during their 

 successive importations, to keep my pupils to the examples of 

 our own great countrymen. Surely it is time that the schools 

 of this kingdom should be distinguished from those of France. 

 Let physiologists of that country borrow from us, and follow 

 up our opinions by experiments*, but let us continue to build 

 that structure which has been commenced in the labours of 

 the Monros and Hunters. 



" The whole history of medical literature proves, that no so- 

 lid or permanent advantage is to be gained, either to medical 

 or general science, by physiological experiments unconnected 

 with anatomy. To disregard the anatomy of the nervous sy- 

 stem, or to take it in the gross ; to make a new science of life; 

 and influenced by a false analogy to call it a fluid ; to attempt 

 to direct it along a cord or a wire, is to transgress all the 

 rules of philosophical inquiry, and must be attended with the 

 rapid decline of anatomical studies. They will be considered 

 as imposing restraints on genius, or be rejected as useless ; 

 and with them pathology, and all that is most necessary to 

 medical science, will fall into disuse. 



* " Sec the experiments of M. Magendie on the distinctions in the root? 

 of the spinal nerves." 



