THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 271 



perimentSj an account of which the Society did me the honour to publish in 

 1822, and which have been repeated with the same result by M. Brechet and 

 other physiologists at Paris, that the nervous power is capable of its function 

 after it has been made to pass through other conductors than the nerves. 



It would seem, therefore, that however generally the nervous power has been 

 confounded with those powers more strictly called vital, it is only an agent 

 employed by them. This view of the subject seemed to point out the possibility 

 of finding some of those powers which operate in inanimate nature capable of 

 the functions of the nervous power properly so called, if brought to operate 

 under the same circumstances ; and on trial it was found, as appears from ex- 

 periments published in the Philosophical Transactions of 1822 and 1828, and 

 repeated with the same result by Dr. Abel*, M. Brechet'|- and others, that 

 galvanism may be substituted for the nervous power, not only in the more 

 simple, but in the more complicated functions of that power. It not only 

 appears that galvanism is capable of exciting the muscles and causing an 

 evolution of caloric from arterial blood;}:, but of forming the secreted fluids 

 from the blood, and supporting all those functions on which the structure of 

 the body depends. How far do the whole of these facts, whether relating to 

 the nature or functions of the nervous power, go in proving its identity with 

 galvanism ? 



On reviewing what has been said of the relations of the sensorial, nervous, 

 and muscular powers, the question naturally arises ; If both the nervous and 

 muscular powers are thus independent of the sensorial power, and capable of 

 their functions after it is withdrawn, why do the more perfect animals for so 

 short a time survive the loss of the sensorial functions ? The cause is, that on the 

 removal of the sensorial power, respiration ceases ; because this function par- 

 takes of all the three powers, the sensorial, nervous, and muscular. 



It has been customary to speak of the muscles of respiration as at least in 

 part muscles of involuntary motion. What is meant by a muscle of voluntary 



* The London Medical and Physical Journal for May 1820, vol. xliii. p. 385. 



-j- De rinfluence du Systeme Nerveux sur la Digestion Stomacale ; par MM. Breschet, D.M.P., 

 chef de Travaux Anatomiques dc la Faculte de Medecine de Paris, etc. ; H. Milne Edwards, D.M.P. ; 

 et Vavasseur, D.M.P. (Memoire lu a la Societe Philomatic la 2 Aout, 1823.) Extrait des Archives 

 Generates de Medecine, Aout 1823. 



X My Treatise on the Vital Functions, third edition, Exper. 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86. 



