142 GALVANISM AND THE NERVOUS POWER. 



divided extremities with a galvanic battery by which they 

 were supplied with a regular current of the galvanic 

 fluid. The result of these experiments was, that these 

 functions might be maintained in this manner perfectly 

 well for a considerable length of time. For instance, 

 the nerves were divided in two small dogs, soon after 

 they had been permitted to eat as much mutton as they 

 chose. In one of them, galvanism was applied for two 

 hours and a quarter, when he died. On examination, 

 the food was found half digested. The other dog which 

 was not galvanized, died at the end of four hours, when 

 it was found that the food he had eaten, was not in the 

 slightest degree digested, but retained perfectly the ap- 

 pearance it had when it was swallowed. 



Emily. Well, really, if there has been no fallacy in 

 these experiments, how can we resist the conclusion, that 

 the galvanic and nervous powers are but one and the 

 same power ? I am sure it seems impossible to me. 



Dr. B. To this opinion it is replied, that these ex- 

 periments prove merely an analogy between the galvan- 

 ic and nervous powers, that they possess some com- 

 mon properties by virtue of which the former may be 

 substituted a short time for the latter, that their identity 

 is no more proved by their similar effects on the vital 

 actions, than the violent contractions produced in a mus- 

 cle by pricking it with a pin, or irritating it with chemi- 

 cal and mechanical agents, indicate the nervous power 

 to be identical with any of these agents. 



Emily. This reasoning however, does not satisfy 

 me. The sole object of the nervous power is to assist 

 in the vital actions, and if the galvanic fluid be found 

 to answer the same purpose, at least as far as can be ex- 

 pected considering how it is applied, why, it seems to 

 jme almost conclusive proof of their identity. 



Dr. B. Think which way you will on the subject, 

 you will have the satisfaction of knowing that many emi- 

 nent physiologists are on your side. But to confirm your 

 opinion, behold the following among several marvellous 



