114 Some Observations on [Feb. 



before that body an eulogy on the subject of this short notice, 

 which was ordered to be printed. 



For the materials, however, which have heen employed in 

 drawing up the preceding sketch, the author is indebted to the 

 liberality of Mr. Gregor's intimate friend, the Rev. J. Trist, of 

 Veryan. 



Article VIII. 



Some Observations on the Nature of the Vital Poivers. Commu- 

 nicated in a Letter to Dr. Thomson, by Dr. W. Philip. 



gjR Worcester, Jan. 5, 1818. 



As you did me the favour, on a former occasion, to insert in the 

 Annals of Philosophy some observations on the effects of Galva- 

 nism on. living animals with which I troubled you, I hope you 

 will have the goodness to give a place to the following, relating 

 to the same subject. 



It appears, as far as I am capable of judging, from many expe- 

 riments either related or referred to in a treatise which I lately 

 laid before the public, entitled, An Experimental Inquiry into the 

 Laivsofthe Vital Functions, BfC that in the more perfect ani- 

 mals there are three vital powers, each having an existence inde- 

 pendent of the others, yet so connected that none can long exist 

 without the others, namely, the sensorial, the nervous, and the 

 muscular powers. 



It was long supposed that the muscular fibre derives its power 

 from the nervous system. Haller was the first who maintained 

 that this power resides in the muscular fibre itself. He made 

 many experiments to support his opinion, which have been 

 frequently repeated, and the accuracy of which is now univer- 

 sally admitted. His inferences from these experiments, however, 

 have been opposed upon the ground that, however carefully we 

 dissect away the nervous filaments supplying a muscle, it must 

 still be admitted, that nervous influence may remain in it, either 

 in nerves too small to be removed by the knife, or constituting a 

 necessary part of the muscular fibre itself. 



This objection, though frequently urged against the inferences 

 of Haller, he never satisfactorily answered ; and it seemed to be 

 countenanced, if not confirmed, by the fact, that when causes of 

 injury affecting the nervous system are of such force as instantly 

 to destroy its power, the power of the muscular fibre is also 

 found to be destroyed. This fact is well illustrated by many of 

 the experiments of Mr. Hunter, and still more fully by those of 

 M. le Gallois, who regards it as wholly invalidating Haller's opi- 

 nion respecting the power of the muscular fibre. 



