TRANSLATOR'S INTRODUCTION. xii 



tinctoess and independence of the voluntary and involuntary vis nervosa 

 is shown, not only in sleep, but also in apoplexy, when the voluntary 

 vis nervosa is quite arrested, but the involuntary performs its duty. 

 So, also, in cases of fever, the voluntary vis nervosa is quite weakened, 

 but the involuntary so much the more active." ' 



Subsequently to the publication of this work, Prochaska, 

 being attracted by the singularity and novelty of the results of 

 the experiments of Galvani and others, laboured diligently to 

 elucidate the nature of the vital processes by electro-galvanic 

 theories ; he also published numerous works, essays, and 

 observations, on physiology, pathology, pathological anatomy, 

 diseases of the eye, &c. A list is before me, supplied to 

 me by my friend Professor Marx, of Gottingen, containing the 

 titles of twenty-seven works, or papers. 



A few explanatory sentences are necessary, with regard to 

 the translations. The Council of the Society having required 

 that the two works should be comprised in one volume, a 

 question arose as to the mode in which this condition should 

 be accomplished. It was obvious that one of the two must be 

 abridged ; and the work of Unzer being an octavo of 800 pages, 

 while the tract of Prochaska is very short, it was equally 

 obvious that the condition could only be fulfilled by abridging 

 the larger. But an abridgment implies a free translation, and 

 a free translation great responsibility on the part of the 

 translator. This feeling of responsibility was not diminished, 

 when, on consultation with Professor Marx, that accomplished 

 scholar, while recommending a free translation, stated that the 

 antiquated style, and singular phrases of the work, rendered it 

 somewhat difficult for even the modern German physician to 

 comprehend. 



The plan I finally resolved upon was this : — To give a full 

 and literal translation of the ^ Dissertation^ of Prochaska ; 

 omitting only the Appendix, which, being on a controversial 

 topic, (that the brain and nerves are made up of globules,) and 



• Op. cit. p. 110. 



