AND ANIMAL LIFE. 219 



par vagum, may be reduced to the following pro- 

 positions : 



1. If the par vagum be cut, the secretion of gastric juice 



is arrested. 



2. Galvanism has been shown to supply the want of nerv- 



ous energy, by accelerating digestion, after the de- 

 struction of the eighth pair of nerves. 



3. The nerves accompany the arteries and muscular fibres 



in their most minute ramifications. 



4. Many nervous fibrillae are distributed on those organs, 



which are destined either for the circulation of blood 

 or the assimilation of food. 



5. The development of the nervous system increases with 



the augmentation of additional organs or their more 

 complete organization. 



6. The secretion of gastric juice is materially retarded by 



the exhibition of narcotics, which are supposed to act 

 on the nerves. 



7. Mental influence occasionally disorders the thorax and 



abdominal functions. 



In Chapter III. I examined the opinions of 

 WILSON PHILIP in regard to the effects aris- 

 ing from the destruction of the par vagum ; and 

 therefore it is not necessary to repeat the same 

 observations to show that the first proposition is 

 incorrect. The experiments at the end of this 

 chapter will satisfactorily prove that the secre- 

 tion of gastric juice is stopped, not on account of 

 nervous energy being diverted from its course to 

 the stomach, but on account of the great disturb- 



