c 163 : 



XII. On the nervous circle which connects the voluntary muscles 

 with the brain. By Charles Bell, Esq. Communicated by 

 the President, January 25, 1826. 



Read February 16, 1826. 



JLn the Papers which I have had the honour of addressing 

 to the Society^on the arrangement of the nerves of the 

 human body, I have proceeded upon a comparison of the 

 nerves of the spinal marrow^ with the nerves of the en- 

 cephalon. 



It was shown that the former were compounded of fila- 

 ments possessing different powers, and that each nerve, having 

 several properties or endowments collected within itself, 

 proceeded to its destination without intricacy. 



Unless we had discovered the composition of the roots of 

 these nerves, we should have continued to suppose that one 

 nerve was simple in its structure, and yet capable of bestow- 

 ing the very different properties of motion and sensation. 



But having satisfied myself that the roots of the spinal 

 nerves had distinct powers, I followed up the columns of the 

 spinal marrow ; and with a knowledge of the composition of 

 these nerves as a key, I examined the different properties of 

 the nerves of the encephalon. Here, in the head, the nerves 

 arise simply, and diverge to their destinations without the 

 close compact or union which the spinal nerves form ; and 

 accordingly, the anatomy of these nerves of the brain affords 

 satisfactory proof of their uses or functions. I am about to 



