370 FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, [ch. i. 



into the upper ventricles from the motion of the brain and of 

 the plexus choroides ; this he published as his own discovery, 

 for which he was reproved by Piccolhomineus. Des Cartes 

 maintained that the animal spirits were secreted from the 

 brain through pores opening into the ventricles, and that 

 there accumulating, the slightest disturbance of them excites 

 the soul seated in the pineal gland ; and contrarily that the 

 animal spirits in the ventricles are moved by the will acting 

 through the pineal gland, and distributed thence through the 

 nerves to all parts of the body. 



SECTION IV. THE ANIMAL SPIRITS ARE DISLODGED FROM 



THE VENTRICLES. 



Caspar Bauhin was amongst the first who denied that the 

 ventricles are the laboratory and storehouse of the animal spirits_, 

 and who taught that these are generated in the substance of 

 the brain, and dispensed directly from thence through the 

 nerves to the organs of sensation and motion. He maintained 

 that the ventricles are more properly accidental structures, 

 which have no other use than to receive the excreta and 

 residuum formed in the nutrition of the brain and in the pro- 

 duction of the animal spirits, and to pass them away through 

 the infundibulum to the fauces. Platerus, Varolius, Spigelius, 

 Moebius, &c., were also of this opinion. 



Caspar Hoffmann, Professor at Altorf, more particularly 

 opposed the ancient doctrine as to the use of the ventricles in 

 preparing and retaining the animal spirits, and used six leading 

 arguments against it, which he considered to be wholly irre- 

 fragible. 1 st. That all the nerves of the body and cerebrum arise 

 from the spinal cord, either within or external to the cerebrum. 

 2dly. That if it be necessary to the action of the spirits that they 

 be under the control of the mind in the vessels, what compels 

 them into the straits of the nerves after having entered into 

 the ocean of the ventricles ? 3dly. That the ventricles are lined 

 internally with the pia mater which prevents ingress and egress. 

 4thly. That since the two superior ventricles open into the third, 

 and the third into the infundibulum, and this into the palate^ 

 who will say that the spirits might not pass out by this way ? 

 5thly. That the ventricles are not continuous with the nerves, 

 but with the body. 6thly. That the ventricles have already a 



