738 OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 



The difference is so remarkable, and appears, from examination of the individual 

 results, to be so constant, that it cannot be attributed to any accidental circum- 

 stance arising out of the small number of animals experimented on. The average 

 weight of the Cerebellum in the ten Stallions and twelve Mares is seen to be 

 the same, and the extremes differ but little in the two ; whilst the average in 

 the Geldings is more than one-seventh higher, and the lowest is considerable 

 above the average of the preceding, while the highest far exceeds the highest 

 among the entire Horses. It is curious that Gall would have been much nearer 

 the truth, if he had said that the dimensions of the Cerebrum are usually re- 

 duced by castration ; for it appears from the following table that such is really 

 the case : 



Average. Greatest. Least. 



Stallions 433 485 350 



Mares 402 432 336 



Geldings 419 566 346 



The weight of the largest Cerebrum of the Gelding is far above the highest of 

 the Stallions ; but it seems to be an extraordinary case, as in no other was the 

 weight above 490 gr. If this one be excluded, the average will be reduced 

 still further, being then about 412 ; this may be seen, by looking over the 

 whole table, to give a very fair idea of the usual weight in these animals, which 

 is therefore less, by about one-twentieth, than the average in the Stallions. 

 The increased size of the Cerebellum in Geldings may perhaps be accounted for 

 by remembering that this class of horses is solely employed for its muscular 

 power, and that the constant exercise of the organ is not unlikely to develop 

 its size ; whilst Stallions, being kept especially for the purpose of propagation, 

 are much less applied to occupations which call forth their motor faculties. 



770. It is asserted, however, by the, followers of Gall, that very strong evi- 

 dence of the truth of his doctrine is afforded by Pathological phenomena; ex- 

 citement of the genital organs, manifesting itself in priapism, turgescence of the 

 testes, and seminal emissions, being an ordinary concomitant of some forms of 

 apoplexy in which the Cerebellum is affected ; whilst in other cases of disease or 

 injury involving extensive destruction of the substance of the organ, there has 

 been a complete abatement of sexual desire. The proportion of recorded cases 

 of disease of the Cerebellum, however, in which any affection of the genital organs 

 has been noticed, is extremely small; for out of 178 cases, which have been col- 

 lected by Burdach, 1 only 10, or scarcely more than 1 in 18, presented any 

 symptoms that tended to indicate a functional relation between the Cerebellum 

 and the Genital organs. The same physiologist affirms that similar affections 

 present themselves when the Cerebrum is the seat of the lesion ; and there 

 seems a strong probability that it is solely to the connection of these organs with 

 the Spinal Cord that such affections of the genital apparatus are due. For 

 erection of the penis has been noticed in a far larger proportion of cases in which 

 the Spinal Cord itself has been the seat of the lesion ; thus in 15 cases in which 

 the cervical portion of the Cord was affected, erection of the penis was observed 

 in 8 ; and in 13 cases of lesion of the dorso-lumbar portion of the cord, erection 

 of the penis took place in 3. a It is well known that erection of the penis 

 and emissio seminis are not infrequent phenomena of death by hanging; and 

 this fact accords fully as well with the idea that the affection of the sexual 

 organs is consequent upon lesion of the Cranio-Spinal axis, as with the doctrine 

 that it is due to disordered function of the Cerebellum. It has been suggested 

 by Serres, 3 who collected 7 cases in which excitement of the genital organs was 



1 " Von Baue und Leben des Gehirns" (Leipzig, 1819-26), band iii. 



2 See the " Traite des Maladies de la Moelle Epiniere" of M. Ollivier (d' Angers), oeme 

 edit., torn. iii. p. 316. 



3 " Anatomic Compnree du Cerveau," torn. ii. p. 001, 717. 



