242 NEKVOUS SYSTEM. 



though he made great efforts to swallow. An instant after 

 the attempt, the matters were vomited, mixed with mucus, 

 but of course did not come from the stomach. 1 



Direct experiments upon the roots of the pneumogastrics 

 have shown that these nerves influence the movements of 

 the oesophagus, and that their motor filaments are not de- 

 rived from the spinal accessory. Chauveau states, as the 

 result of numerous observations, that " the oesophagus con- 

 tracts throughout its entire length when the roots of the 

 pneumogastrics are excited ; it never contracts when the 

 bulbar roots of the spinal accessory are excited. 2 



Properties and Functions of the Abdominal Brandies. 

 In view of the very extensive distribution of the terminal 

 branches of the pneumogastrics to the abdominal organs, it 

 is evident that the functions of these nerves must be very 

 important, particularly since it has been shown that the 

 right nerve is distributed to the whole of the small intes- 

 tine. We shall consider the .functions of these branches in 

 their relations to the liver, the stomach, and the intestines. 

 "We have no positive information with regard to their action 

 upon the spleen, kidneys, and suprarenal capsules. 



Influence of the Pneumogastrics upon the Liver. There 

 is very little known with regard to the influence of the pneu- 

 mogastrics upon the secretion of bile. The only positive 

 statements to be found on this subject are those of Longet. 3 

 This physiologist has repeatedly remarked, after section of 

 the pneumogastrics, that the bile diminishes in density and 

 contains less coloring matter than under normal conditions. 

 This he attributes to disturbances in the hepatic circulation, 

 by which a serous fluid is exuded and mixes with the bile. 



1 BERNARD, Sf/steme nerveux, Paris, 1858, tome ii., p. 422. 

 8 CHAUVEAU, Du nerf pneumogaslrique, etc. Journal de la physiologic, Paris, 

 1862, tome v., p. 205. 



3 LONGET, Traite de physiologic, Paris, 1869, tome iii., p. 552. 



