270 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



THE VEGETATIVE SENSORY ARC. 



Do real vegetative sensory tracts exist, and if so, are 

 these anatomically different from the animal sensory 

 tracts? If we are guided by physiopathological facts 

 of laboratory and clinical observation, we are tempted to 

 believe so, for we are in the habit of considering that there 

 is a visceral sensation, absolutely different in its responses 

 to the excitations of the animal system. Certain anat- 

 omists, Dogiel particularly, have even described particular 

 anatomical dispositions, which in the spinal ganglion 

 assures the connection between the vegetative sensory 

 tracts and the animal sensory tracts, and would thus 

 explain certain physioclinical manifestations. In reality, 

 it is not necessary to have a special anatomical disposition 

 to explain the physiological differences between the two 

 great types of sensation stimuli; vegetative stimulus, 

 unconscious under physiological conditions, and conscious 

 animal stimulus. I have in some other 3 part of this book 

 explained the facts which allow us to conclude that: 



1. Vegetative sensation is subject to the same general 

 laws as the various animal sensations. 



2. The differences observed in physiology, and in 

 clinical pathology are not due to special anatomical 

 dispositions, but are united to the condition of the exci- 

 tation from the point of view of its quality. 



3. When all is said, vegetative sensation reacts 

 unconsciously to ordinary stimulation. 



4. That in one, as well as in the other great system, an 

 ordinary stimulation, as to quality, but extraordinary 

 as to quantity, will cause a sensation of pain. 



3 The sympathetic and associated systems. 



