722s 
all the anatomical conditions necessary for 
the developement of acts of sensation and 
volition. 
~ It thus appears that Flourens’ views re- 
specting the office of the cerebellum derive 
considerable support both from experiment and 
from anatomy. When we come to collect the 
evidence on this subject which has been fur- 
nished by the effects of disease, we obtain very 
little information of a satisfactory kind. A 
superficial lesion of either cerebellar hemi- 
sphere or of the median lobe does not cause 
paralysis, but may produce delirium or ¢on- 
vulsions, as a superficial lesion of either ce- 
rebral hemisphere may; but a deep-seated 
Jesion of the cerebellum involving the central 
white substance which is continued from the 
crus cerebelli causes hemiplegia on the oppo- 
site side. This similarity between the effects 
of cerebellar and of cerebral disease is a re- 
markable and highly interesting fact, but one 
which pete ii increases the difficulty of 
obtaining from pathological phenomena any 
contribution to the solution of Bg ketal 
questions. It may be explained thus:—the 
transverse fibres of the pons passing through the 
mesocephale would propagate to this segment 
the morbid influence of any deep-seated lesion 
of the cerebellum, and thus affect the adjacent 
ar which again would affect the opposite 
alf of the body just as if the morbid influence 
originated in the cerebral hemisphere. It is, 
then, this secondary affection of either pyra- 
midal body which obscures the proper signs 
referable to cerebellar lesion. 
A few cases, however, have been put on re- 
cord, in which a tottering gait, like that of a 
drunken man, and a defective power of co- 
ordination existed in connection with a diseased 
state of cerebellum. A striking instance of 
this occurred under my own observation: a 
young surgeon, who had recently received an 
appointment in the medical service of the 
army, was in attendance in the military hos- 
pitals at Chatham, preparatory to his nomina- 
tion to a regiment. It was observed that as 
he walked he staggered to so great a degree 
that he was suspected of drinking to excess, 
and was put under arrest on this account. 
It was soon, however, found that he was suffer- 
ing under symptoms of diseased brain, and 
he was sent up to town and placed under my 
care. I found that his ‘ei symptom was 
extreme difficulty in the coordination of his 
movements, accompanied by a sense of gid- 
diness in the head. He could neither stand 
nor walk, yet there was no distinct paralysis, 
for while he was in the recumbent posture he 
could move about his limbs freely. After a 
time he became amaurotic and comatose. The 
post-mortem examination revealed softening of 
the left crus cerebri and a patch of yellow soft- 
ening on the corresponding restiform body: 
there was in addition a recent deposit of lymph 
at the base of the brain around the optic com- 
missure. 
I must now notice two other hypotheses as 
to the office of the cerebellum ; the first is that 
of Foville; the second that of Gall. Foville 
PLYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
supposed that the cerebellum is the centre of 
sensation, “the focus of sensibility.” The 
objections which appear fatal to this hypothesis 
are derived from anatomy and from patholo- 
gical observation. The cerebellum wants that 
general connection with sentient nerves, (direct 
as well as indirect,) which might be oe 
if it performed the office in question. Not one 
of the nerves of pure sense has any connection 
with it. Moreover the diseased states of cere- 
bellum do not give rise to any privation of 
sensibility such as might be expected where 
the centre of sensation was the part involved. 
The most celebrated view of the office of the 
cerebellum is that put forward by the distin- 
guished Gall. He supposed. that the instinet 
of propagation has its seat in this organ, and 
therefore referred to it as the source of all 
sexual and generative impulses. R 
Gall’s view rests on two assumptions ; first, 
that the instinct of generation or of uc- 
tion is “ the most indispensable and most pow- 
erful of all the instincts ;” and, secondly, that 
great width of the occipital region of the skull — 
and thickness of the back of the neck indicate 
great developement of the cerebellum. Be 
It is by reason of the assumed 
importance of the generative instinct that 
large a portion of the encephalic’ mass (an 
eighth or ninth part of the whole) has been 
assigned by Gall to exercise an exclusive in- 
fluence over it. ~ 
This first position taken by Gall seems to me 
untenable. Can we separate the sexual instinet 
from the emotions, from those especially 
are clearly instinctive in their nature? La 
prehend not. The same part of the bra 
would probably exercise its influence upon 
the emotional actions. But even if the sexu: 
instinct were separable from the other instir 
it seems very questionable whether it is of th 
paramount importance as to need a separ 
organ of great magnitude, of complex structt 
and of extensive connections with the rest « 
the cerebro-spinal centre. If we 
with the instinct of self-preservation, as 
fested in providing either for the wants of 
body or for defence against assault, it certai 
cannot be admitted to have a superior infl 
to this the most pressing of all. Yet, eve 
this instinct, a separate seat has not be 
assigned in the brain.* ‘" 
The second position which Gall 
iC 
owl 
* This argument was used, nearl 
bis, in Mr. Bowman’s and my Ph 
discussing this subject. It and other objec 
to Gall’s doctrine, which we made, have 
criticised by Mr. Noble, of Manchester, 
zealous phrenologist, who, like many of 
school, is impatient of the slowness of b 
of those who do not completely embrace the opit 
which he advocates. Mr. Noble seems to 1 
that the existence of a surmise of Spurzhi 
of a single recorded observation of Dr. A. Co 
which led him to suggest that a certain large et 
lation, seen by him in the brain of a lady wht 
great fear of death, who evin “* perpt 
anxiety about her own death,” should be asst 
as the seat of a faculty to be called “ love of | 
and some observations of Dr, Vimont, which Mr 
ble does not value so much as the single obse 
