723 * 
as the posterior pillars of the fornix, a 
direct ratio to each other. 
Lallemand relates a case in which the symp- 
toms were altogether limited to mental distur- 
bance, without any affection of the sensitive or 
motor powers, and the fornix and corpus callo- 
sum were found in a state of complete softening 
without discolouration. : 
The fibres of the pons Varolii bring the 
cerebellar hemispheres into connection with 
each other, and with the vesicular matter of 
the mesocephale. Direct experiments on these 
fibres can yield no satisfactory result, because 
they are so intimately associated with the dee 
er seated of the mesocephale, and with 
the nerves of the fifth pair and others, that it is 
impossible to irritate them in the living animal 
without affecting these parts likewise. The 
anatomy of the fibres, however, sufficiently in- 
dicates that they belong properly to a double 
cerebellum : for when the cerebellum becomes 
single, as in birds, reptiles, and fishes, no such 
fibres are found in the encephalon. Morbid 
lesion of the pons is productive of very serious 
results from the number and importance of the 
parts in its neighbourhood, the pyramids, the 
medulla oblongata, the quadrigeminal tuber- 
cles ; so that the symptoms it produces cannot 
be referred solely to the injury to the commis- 
sural fibres. It is very probable, however, that 
the crossed effect of deep-seated disease of 
either hemisphere of the cerebellum may be 
accounted for by the influence of these com- 
missural fibres upon the adjacent anterior py- 
ramids, which again would influence the oppo- 
site side of the spinal cord. 
Having thus brought to a termination our 
review of the physiology of the encephalon, I 
may now sum up the principal conclusions 
which our examination of this difficult and im- 
portant subject leads to; and these are embraced 
in the following propositions. 
1. That the encephalon consists of a series 
of centres, each of which has its proper influ- 
ence in the exercise of the mental and bodily 
functions. These are the centre of intellectual 
actions, the centre of volition, the centre of 
sensation, the centre of the coordination of 
muscular movements, the centre of emotion, 
and the centre of respiration and of deglutition. 
2. That the cerebral convolutions, with the 
fibres which connect them to the corpora striata 
and ore thalami, constitute the centre of intel- 
lectual action. 
3. That the centre of volition consists prima- 
rily of the corpora striata ; the inferior layers of 
the crura cerebri, which are continuous with the 
anterior pyramids, connect these gangliform bo- 
dies with the vesicular matter of the crura (locus 
niger), with the vesicular matter of the mesoce- 
phale, medulla oblongata, and with that of the 
spinal cord (the anterior horns), all of which with 
e corpora striata probably form the dynamic 
nervous matter in the impulses of volition for 
nerves implanted in them respectively. 
4. The optic thalami, which by the extension 
of the olivary columns through the mesocephale 
PHYSIOLOGY OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. ‘ 
and medulla oblongata to the posterior horns — 
of the vesicular matter of the spinal cord, — 
become: continuous with those constitute — 
the centre of sensation, having implanted in it 
or connected with it less directly all the sentient 
nerves of the body. a 
The nerves of the higher senses probab 
have each special ganglia or centres, which, 
however, are connected with the general centre; 
as the olfactory lobes for smell; the retina 
corpora geniculata, or corpora adrigemina 
Sa vision ; the vesicular ee which the 
auditory nerves are implanted or the floc 
of Reil for hearing; the ganglia of the fiftl 
Gome-pharyngeel, and posterior roots of spin 
nerves for taste and touch. a 
5. The cerebellum constitutes the centre 
the coordination of muscular movements, bot 
in locomotion and in all the complicated move 
ments of the weayest m -— a 
6. The upper a i me. 
socephale, including Bre greatest pot 
tion of the corpora quadrigemina, constitu 
a special centre of actions referable to the em 
tions, among which may be reckoned sexu 
impulses. This centre connects itself with t 
medulla oblongata by the oli columns, @ 
through the same channel with the -postet 
horns of the spinal vesicular matter. = 
7. The medulla oblongata constitutes — 
centre of respiration and deglutition, but 
cannot be considered as wholly devoted 
these functions, inasmuch as it consists li 
wise of continuations of the centres of voliti 
of sensation, and of emotion.* ‘¥ 
Of the functions of the ganglions.— 
ganglions are small nervous centres we 
bound to believe, from the existence in 
a considerable quantity of vesicular matter 1 
gled with fibrous matter. And the views) 
we have already expressed respecting the 
namic character of the vesicular matter wai 
the assumption that wherever a special ace 
lation of fe form of nervous matter is f 
there must be a special source of | 
power. _<— 
* 
* I have great pleasure in referring the 1 
a very able seeny oe the physiology of the 
(which I did not see until this article was al 
in which very similar views to those expr 
the text are advocated, based on compai 
tomy. ‘The author, who in justice to himse 
not to withhold his name, is evident 
by his adhesion to the excito-motory doct 
allude to the Review of Noble on the 
Dr. Forbes’s Journal for October, 1846. 
already put forward similar opinions respe 
saben of the ery the uses of 
in the section headed ‘ An hypothesis of | 
of hea ra Niky the pate worth Ce 7 
ished in , and su uen his 
volume entitled ‘‘ The physiological m 
tive Anatomy of the Brain, &c.”’ chap, x 
same views were expressed in Mr. Bowm 
my ‘“* Physiological Anatomy and 
an,” part ii. 1845, p. 291 and p. ¢ 
that the review to which I refer co 5 
complete and masterly exposition of the wi 
of the present system of phrenology, 
