596 PHYSIOLOGY CHAP. 



cortical region. In our. 1885 monograph (with Seppilli) on cerebral 

 localisation, we supported this view by observations on a dog in 

 which the whole of the corpus striatum and anterior part of 

 the thalamus were destroyed on one side, in addition to the 

 excitable area. In this case the usual motor and sensory defect 

 phenomena of the opposite side persisted for more than nine 

 months after the operation, which is never the case when 

 the operation involves the cortex only, or the whole anterior 

 half of the brain is destroyed, as shown by the classical ex- 

 periments of Goltz. In all these cases the paralytic symptoms 

 are so slight after a few days or weeks that they seem to have 

 entirely disappeared unless they are carefully sought for. It 

 seems to us therefore legitimate to conclude that the basal ganglia 

 have the same function as the sensory-motor zone of the cortex, and 

 that the greater persistence and severity of the defect symptoms 

 in the dog were due to the destruction of both the corpora striata 

 and the cortex. 



Direct experimental investigation of the basal ganglia was first 

 attempted by Nothnagel on rabbits (1876), by the injection of a 

 few drops of chromic acid, and by a trochar from which blades 

 could be projected, which he inserted through the interhemispheri- 

 cal fissure into the third ventricle ; on turning it round he 

 destroyed the head of the caudate nucleus. Among his observa- 

 tions the fact is worthy of notice that an irritative lesion of the 

 head of this nucleus, which he called nodus cursorius, produces in 

 the animal an irresistible tendency to run. This fact was confirmed 

 by Fournier and by Kezek, but denied by Schwohn and Eckhard. 



After injections of chromic acid into the anterior half of the 

 lenticular nucleus, Nothnagel noted paralysis of the muscles of 

 the limbs, without perceptible alteration of sensibility to pain. 

 Carville and Duret (1875), on repeating the experiments on the 

 caudate and lenticular nuclei, observed hemiplegia of the opposite 

 side, which was more serious when the internal capsule was 

 badly injured. They surmised that Nothnagel, by using chromic 

 acid, had also injured the capsule. 



Johanrisen (1885), on faradic excitation of the lenticular 

 nucleus, observed first tonic contractions and thin clonic twitches 

 in the muscles of the opposite side, sometimes of the same side 

 also. He noted that these epileptoid effects occurred also when 

 the excitable cortex was partially destroyed ; and they were 

 consequently independent of spread of the current to the cortical 

 motor area. The epileptoid attacks were more diffuse on exciting 

 the middle and inner third of the lenticular nucleus; and more 

 confined to special groups of muscles when the posterior segment 

 of the nucleus is excited. 



Baginski and Lehmann (1886) in studying the functions of the 

 caudate nucleus used an aspirator, connected with a thin glass 



