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SE@T. XVIII. PHYSIOLOGY. 151 
lants, to renew the functions of the nerves. The 
first of these states happens most commonly at 
the beginning of diseases, the second towards 
their close. 
cccLxxin. The slight healthy contractions of 
the intestinal canal, are called its peristaltic mo- 
tion, which continues for a considerable time after 
death. 
cccLxxIv. The intestinal tube is more tena- 
cious of its irritability than the muscles. This 
may be observed, by killing a rabbit half an hour 
after it has eaten food, and opening the abdomen, 
when the motion of the intestines may be seen to 
great advantage. 
cccLxxv. The nerves of the stomach are de- 
rived from the eighth pair and the great sympa- 
thetic ; division of the eighth pair is followed by 
convulsion of the stomach, which rejects any 
fresh aliment as violently as if it were inflamed. 
Is there any difference in the cause of convulsion 
of the stomach, in inflammation and after the 
division of the eighth pair of nerves? Will any 
one allege, that the convulsion of the stomach, 
in a state of inflammation, is owing to the irrita- 
bilis naturee of Haller, and after the division of 
the eighth pair to the vis nervosa? An answer 
to these questions, whether in the positive or 
negative, would equally overturn the whole fabric 
of Haller’s irritability; or, at least, show its pal- 
