438 FANCIED FUNCTIONS OF 



of the intestinal tube, of the liver, kidneys, and absorbents, &c. of 

 the abdomen require no sensation in health ; and sensation, there- 

 fore, occurs in them only under unhealthy influences, and they 

 neither require nor have communication with the brain beyond 

 such an amount as all parts possess for occasional sensation and the 

 sympathetic influence of the mental affections of the brain, and 

 that influence which it, like all other organs, exerts at all times on 

 all parts. There is thus a sufficient reason for the presence of 

 encephalo-spinal nerves where there is no volition, and where 

 ordinarily no sensation occurs, without ascribing nutritive or 

 functional influence to them. 



Although the division of the spinal chord or of its nerves, or 

 compression or disorganisation of these or of parts of the brain, 

 prevents voluntary power over the corresponding muscles, without 

 suspending the circulation, &c. in them, and does not impede the 

 functions of the lungs or stomach ; yet circulation, and, what are 

 dependent upon it, nutrition and frequently animal heat, are 

 evidently impaired. Sir Everard Home found that, by dividing 

 the nerves running to the horn of a buck, the temperature of the 

 horn fell about 6 below that of the other, and, as the divided 

 ends advanced in the process of re-union, the temperature rose 

 again towards a level. 1 Palsied limbs are often colder than others, 

 or, as Dr. Abercrombie enounces the fact more accurately, are more 

 easily cooled and heated, follow variation of external tempera- 

 ture more, than others. Palsied limbs waste, and the ends of the 

 jpalsied fingers are very pale, and the nails blue from time to time, for 

 want of use. Division of the trigeminum pair of nerves close to the 

 brain causes inflammation of the eye and cloudiness of the cornea; 

 and its division at its ganglion Gasseri produces opacity of the 

 cornea and ulceration and destruction of the eye. m The at- 

 tempt to cure morbid sensibility of the horse's foot by dividing 

 its nerves has been relinquished on account of the frequent 

 separation of the hoof after the operation. Injury of the lumbar 

 spine frequently occasions alcaline urine. In hectic fever, 

 sweat breaks forth generally as soon as the patient falls asleep, 

 as soon as the brain becomes inactive. Some persons have 

 large quantities of acid rise into the mouth, and suffer other 

 dyspeptic symptoms, if they fall asleep after dinner. It is indeed 

 maintained that in paralytic parts the muscles only waste, and 



1 Phil Trans. 1826. 



m Dr. Magendie, Journal de Physiologic, t. iv. 



