Royal Society. 141 
men in this field of research, the discovery of the grand fundamental 
principle upon which a correct knowledge of the functions of the 
nervous system depends, is unquestionably due to Sir Charles Bell. 
He was the first to ascertain, not by accident, but by careful and 
laborious dissections and experiments, and by a cautious induction 
from the phenomena which his talents and unwearying industry en- 
abled him to develope, that “the nerves which we trace in the body 
are not single nerves possessing different powers, but are bundles 
of different nerves whose filaments are enclosed in one common 
sheath, but which are as distinct in function as they are in origin; 
that they depend for their specific attributes on the nervous masses 
to which they are severally attached ; that the spinal nerves arising 
from the lateral and anterior columns of the medulla spinalis convey 
the power of motion, while the nerves arising from the posterior 
strands communicate the faculty of sensation to the several parts of 
the body to which they are distributed.” The nerves which arise 
from the middle and upper columns of the spinal marrow, Sir 
Charles conceived to be designed for the act of respiration; and 
these he termed the “system of respiratory nerves.” 
Having thus established the principle by anatomy and experi- 
ment, that the nerves possess distinct functions in correspondence 
with their origin from different parts of the brain and spinal mar- 
row, Sir Charles Bell followed up his inquiries by collecting such 
pathological facts as served to illustrate and confirm the opinions 
he had advanced ; and our Transactions are enriched by numerous 
memoirs relating to this most important subject. His essays on the 
nerves of the face in health and disease are of the deepest interest, 
and their practical value cannot be too highly estimated. In fact, 
the great advancement which has been made of late years in our 
knowledge of the nature and treatment of the diseases of the nervous 
system, is mainly attributable to the labours and discoveries of Sir 
Charles Bell*. 
* A list of Sir Charles Bell’s contributions to the Philosophical Trans- 
actions is subjoined. 
1. On the Nerves; giving an Account of some Experiments on their 
Structure and Functions, which lead to a new arrangement of the System. 
(Phil. Trans. 1821, p. 398.) 
2. Of the Nerves which associate the Muscles of the Chest, in the actions 
of Breathing, Speaking and Expression ; being a continuation of the paper 
on the Structure and Functions of the Nerves. (Ibid. 1822, p. 284.) 
3. On the Motions of the Eye, in illustration of the Uses of the Muscles 
and Nerves of the Orbit. (Ibid. 1823, p. 166.) 
4. Second part of the paper on the Nerves of the Orbit. (Ibid. 1823, 
p- 289.) 
5. On the Nervous Circle which connects the voluntary Muscles with the 
Brain. (Ibid. 1826, Part II. p. 163.) 
6. On the Nerves of the Face; being a second paper on that subject. 
(Ibid. 1829, p. 317.) 
7. Of the Organs of the Human Voice. (Ibid. 1832, p. 299.) 
8. Onthe Functions of some parts of the Brain, and on the relations be- 
tween the Brain and Nerves of Motion and Sensation, (Ibid. 1834, p. 471.) 
