458 PHYSIOLOGY 



in the labyrinth and determining the position of the head. Thus 

 the whole mechanism provides for a maintenance of equilibrium of 

 the body as a whole, and for the proper balancing of the reflex 

 movements oi the different limbs with those of the trunk during 

 all the changes in the position of the centre of gravity attending 

 locomotion. 



The view here put forward really includes the various descriptions of the 

 functions of the cerebellum which have been given by different authorities. 

 Thus Luciani describes the cerebellum as an organ which by unconscious pro- 

 cesses exerts a continual reinforcing action on the activity of all the spinal 

 centres. Munk ascribes to the cerebellum the function of maintaining bodily 

 equilibrium. Lewandowsky regards the cerebellum as the central organ of 

 the muscular senses. Hughlings Jackson expressed many years ago an important 

 characteristic of the cerebellum when he wrote that the cerebellum is the centre 

 for continuous movements, and the cerebrum for changing movements. All these 

 descriptions come under Sherrington's conception of the cerebellum as head 

 ganglion of the proprioceptive system. 



