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property in the spinal system, for I find that Pfliiger's experiment 

 does not succeed in a dead animal, unless performed soon after 

 death, although the intestines may continue to move for a long 

 time. 



In another experiment I divided with fine scissors, at a little di- 

 stance from the intestine, all the visible branches of nerves in a por- 

 tion of mesentery corresponding to an inch and three-quarters of the 

 gut, leaving the vessels uninjured. No effect was produced on the 

 peristaltic movements, which happened to be pretty active at the 

 time, and continued the same at the seat of the operation as elsewhere. 

 To ascertain whether the division of the nerves had been thoroughly 

 effected, I now transmitted powerful galvanic currents through the 

 spine, as in former experiments ; when all movements ceased in the 

 intestine, except in the small piece whose nerves had been cut, which 

 continued in vigorous action as before. The persistence of the 

 vermicular motion after complete division of the mesenteric nerves 

 shows that the movement which occurs during life, like that which 

 takes place post mortem, is effected by a mechanism within the 

 intestine ; and its continuance in the portion of gut so treated, 

 while other parts were relaxed, on the application of galvanism to 

 the spine, proves that the inhibiting influence acts through the me- 

 senteric nerves, whose integrity is necessary to the effect. 



This being established, it follows that if a quiet state of the in- 

 testine, such as very frequently occurs in its natural condition, were 

 due to a controlling agency on the part of the so-called " inhibitory 

 system," the complete division of the mesenteric nerves supplying a 

 portion of gut which is at rest, would liberate it from this restraint, 

 and movement would be the result. I performed the operation in 

 one case under such circumstances, but the portion of intestine con- 

 cerned remained as tranquil as the rest. 



To sum up the above, it appears that the intestines possess an 

 intrinsic ganglionic apparatus which is in all cases essential to the 

 peristaltic movements, and, while capable of independent action, is 

 liable to be stimulated or checked by other parts of the nervous 

 system ; the inhibiting influence being apparently due to the ener- 

 getic operation of the same nerve-fibres which, when working more 

 mildly, produce increase of function. 



After the above conclusions had been arrived at, my attention was 



