721x 
the spinal cord and to its intracranial continu- 
ation, which form a connection with the grey 
contractions of the larynx, but of which those of 
the heart are entirely independent. The influence 
of the stimulus upon the heart is immediate. That 
of a stimulus applied to the larynx must pass to 
the medulla oblongata, and be reflected upon the 
part moved.” 
The details of further experiments next follow. 
The author refers to the reflex function the power 
which the hedgehog has of assuming the form and 
firmness of a ball.(?) Cases of infants born without 
orain or cerebellum are referred to in proof of the 
existence of reflex actions in the young of the hu- 
man subject. The experiment of dividing the spinal 
marrow between the nerves of the superior and 
inferior extremities is described, to show ‘‘ two 
modes of animal life; the first being the assem- 
blage of the voluntary and respiratory powers with 
those of the reflex function and irritability; the 
second, the two latter powers only; ” “if the spinal 
marrow be now destroyed, the irritability alone 
remains, all the other phenomena having ceased.” 
Dr. Hall next shows that the reflex function ad- 
mits of exaltation and diminution. Frogs are made 
tetanic by opium and strychnine, and the tetanus 
disappears on removing the spinal marrow. On 
the other hand, a few drops of hydrocyanic acid 
placed upon the tongue of a frog depress the reflex 
function ; ‘‘ the contractions which depend on the 
reflex function are observed to become less and less 
energetic and excitable, and at length cease alto- 
gether.” 
Some highly interesting references are made to 
the light thrown upon the nature of certain diseases 
by our knowledge of this reflex function. The mor- 
bid states produced by dentition, epilepsy, asth- 
ma, tenesmus and strangury, tetanus and hydro- 
phobia, are the principal diseases mentioned. 
The rest of the paper consists of inferences from 
the preceding parts and a recapitulation. 
Dr. Hall had formed, at this time, no distinct 
hypothesis respecting any special mechanism for the 
reflex function. He makes the following remarks, 
which seem to foreshadow his subsequent hypo- 
thesis referred to in the text. ‘* It appears pro- 
bable,”’ he says, ‘‘ that the facts of this paper may 
lead to some important additions to our knowledge 
of anatomy, by inducing an accurate inquiry into 
the origin, course, connection, and distribution of 
the subcutaneous, or submucous, and muscular 
nerves, which constitute the arcs of the reflex 
function.” 
In reviewing this interesting and important paper, 
it is impossible not to feel the greatest regret that its 
author should have done so much injustice to him- 
self as well as to those who had preceded him, by 
neglecting to give an exact account of the state of 
science in reference to this question at the time he 
wrote. No one who peruses with candour the essay 
of Prochaska can deny that it contains, with re- 
gard to the reflex fun. tion, everything that Dr. Hall’s 
paper contains, everything which will bear the test 
of careful analysis, omitting those views which are, 
indeed, peculiar to Dr. Hall, and which do not 
appear in this paper, assigning to the cord pow- 
ers over ingestion, egestion, muscular tone, and 
irritability, &c. Throughout the whole paper no 
allusion whatever has been made to Prochaska’s 
essay. The Report of certain members of the In- 
stitute upon the work of Le Gallois, (both of which 
Dr. Hall quotes, ) makes distinct reference to Pro- 
‘chaska’s views of the reflection of sensorial impres- 
sions. It must not, however, be forgotten that 
Prochaska’s views had fallen into oblivion and 
neglect, and that Dr. Hall revived them, illus- 
trated them by experiments, and showed their ap- 
plication to the pathology of the nervous sys-~ 
tem, I may add, that nothing would be more 
excusable than that a physician, working at these 
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
matter of the cord. Of these fibres some 
are afferent or incident, others efferent or re- 
subjects in 1832, should be ignorant of Prochaska’s 
essay published in 1784, more especially as it was 
overlooked even by his own countrymen—by such 
men as Treviranus, Rudolphi, and Miiller. 
Dr. Hall’s next publications, as he himself stat 
(Preface to Memoirs on the Nervous System, 1837, 
were a course of lectures, delivered from a prin’ 
syllabus in the summer, and repeated in the winter 
of 1835, of which one was inserted in the Medical 
Gazette for January, 1836, and the whole in his 
Lectures on the Nervous System and its Diseases, 
published in April, 1836. 
It is in this latter work that, so far as I have been 
able to ascertain, Dr. Hall first put forward the hy- 
pothesis detailed in the text. It is stated, however, 
not as a hypothesis, but as a discovered fact. Having 
described two divisions of the nervous system, the 
first consisting of the cerebrum and cerebellum 
with sentient nerves, which pursue their course fo 
them, and of motor nerves, which 
them either along the base of the brain or 
the spinal marrow, and then along every ex 
e second com- 
pointing out in all its fullness. pt ae cere- 
division of the nervous system, and the ganglionic 
or the second subdivision of this system remo 
this remains. It consists of the true spinal m 
distinguished from the sentient and motor ne 
which run along its course as an axis of 
and motor nerves. It is the seat of a pecu 
series of physiological phenomena, and of a 
culiar class of pathological affections.” In he 
former are included all (sic) the functions whic 
relate to the immediate acts of ingestion and egestic 
in the latter, all spasmodic diseases.” (Loc. cit 
Further on, in the same work, Dr. Hall gives a 
analysis of his true spinal or excito-motory sy 
tem, which consists, according to his description 
of, 1. the Membranes; 2. the True Medulla; 
the True Spinal Nerves. The principal divis 
of the true medulla, he specifies as follows = 
1, The Tubercula Quadrigemina, 
2. The Medulla Oblongata, f 
3. The Medulla Spinalis, and especially 
1. Cervical, : 
2. Dorsal, 
3. Lumbar, and 
4. Sacral portions.* 
The reader who has perused with attention 
analysis of Prochaska’s work given in the tex 
perceive a striking resemblance between t 
Medulla and the Sensorium commune of I 
p- 721E. ‘ 
In this work there is no allusion to the 
tant essay of Prochaska, although Sir 
Bell is corrected for attributing the discover 
ganglia on the posterior roots of the spin 
and on the portio major of the fifth to 
stead of to Prochaska (p. 17), and two quote 
are made from the latter author without spec 
the work from which the passages are quoted 
In 1837 Dr. Hall published a quarto vi 
with the title, ‘‘ Memoirs on the Nervous 5 
This consists of a reprint of the pa 
in the Philosophical Transactions, * the 
Function of the Medulla Oblongata and 
Spinalis;” and also of a paper which was 
* An anatomical oversight, as the 
nalis has no sacral portion. 
