THE STORY OF NINETEENTH-CENTURY SCIENCE 



fact that it is the centre of nerves that supply the 

 heart ; but this simple explanation, annulling the con- 

 ception of a specific " life centre," was not at once ap- 

 parent. 



Other experiments of Flourens seemed to show that 

 the cerebellum is the seat of the centres that co-ordinate 

 muscular activities, and that the higher intellectual fac- 

 ulties are relegated to the cerebrum. But beyond this, 

 as regards localization, experiment faltered. Negative 

 results, as regards specific faculties, were obtained from 

 all localized irritations of the cerebrum, and Flourens 

 was forced to conclude that the cerebral lobe, while 

 being undoubtedly the seat of higher intellection, per- 

 forms its functions with its entire structure. This con- 

 clusion, which incidentally gave a quietus to phrenology, 

 was accepted generally, and became the stock doctrine 

 of cerebral physiolog} r for a generation. 



It will be seen, however, that these studies of Flourens 

 had a double bearing. They denied localization of 

 cerebral functions, but they demonstrated the localiza- 

 tion of certain nervous processes in other portions of the 

 brain. On the whole, then, they spoke positively for 

 the principle of localization of function in the brain, for 

 which a certain number of students contended ; while 

 their evidence against cerebral localization was only 

 negative. There was here and there an observer who 

 felt that this negative testimony was not conclusive. In 

 particular, the German anatomist Meynert, who had 

 studied the disposition of nerve tracts in the cerebrum, 

 was led to believe that the anterior portions of the cere- 

 brum must have motor functions in preponderance ; the 

 posterior portions, sensory functions. Somewhat simi- 

 lar conclusions were reached also by Dr. Hughlings- 



418 



