"DR. PHILIP'S EXPERIMENTS. 141 



upon which the whole theory depends have been gratu- 

 itously assumed, the nerves have never been found to 

 be hollow, and the nervous fluid, such as it is here im- 

 agined, never existed. 



Emily. Is it possible that with no foundation what- 

 ever in truth, this theory could have prevailed so long ! 



Dr. B. It seemed reasonable enough that the com 

 raunication maintained by the nerves, should be effected 

 by means of some material agent, for it was hardly pos- 

 sible to conceive how else it could be done. In accord- 

 ance with the most common analogies, it was very nat- 

 urally regarded as an extremely light fluid, or invisible 

 gas. In^later times, the nature of that subtle and pow- 

 erful agent, electricity, has been more fully unfolded to 

 us, and now, the most common theory of the nervous 

 power identifies it with this agent. The modern discov- 

 eries in regard to it, very soon showed its strong resem- 

 blance to some of the vital actions, and great expecta- 

 tions' were raised, that it would be found one day, to 

 constitute an important property, or portion of organized, 

 matter. 



Emily. Galvani, I believe, ascertained that if a frog 

 formed part of a galvanic circle, violent and rapid con- 

 tractions of the muscles took place. 



Dr. B. It is well known too, that the dead body, 

 when properly exposed to its influence, will exhibit some 

 of the most striking phenomena of life. The chest has 

 been made to contract and dilate, as in true respiration ; 

 the fist has been clenched ; the limbs raised ; and the 

 passions strongly expressed in the countenance. The 

 brilliant experiments of Dr. Wilson Philip have partic- 

 ularly called attention to this fluid, and convinced many 

 of its perfect identity with the nervous power. It is well 

 known, that if the nerves which are distributed to the 

 organs of respiration and digestion, are divided, the for- 

 mer function is impeded, and soon ceases, and the latter 

 is effectually destroyed. Now this gentleman divided 

 these nerves in different animals, and connected their 



