66 THIRD REPORT — 1833. 



ments, on external stimulation, evidently survives the destruc- 

 tion of the cerebral hemispheres. 



A very elaborate series of experiments on the functions of 

 the brain in general, and especially on those of its anterior por- 

 tion, have been since performed by M. Bouillaud *. That ob- 

 server concurs with Flourens in vievping the cerebral lobes as 

 the seat of the remembrance of those sensations which are fur- 

 nished to us by sight and hearing, as well as of all the intel- 

 lectual operations to which these sensations may be subjected, 

 such as comparison, judgment and reasoning. But he proves 

 that the ordinary tactual sensibility does not require for its 

 manifestation the presence of the brain. For animals entirely 

 deprived of brain were awakened by being struck, and gave 

 evident indications of suffering when exposed to any cause of 

 physical pain. Bouillaud observes, too, that the iris continues 

 obedient to the stimulus of light, after ablation of the hemi- 

 spheres, and on this ground calls in question the loss of vision 

 asserted by Flourens. Nor are the lobes (he contends,) the 

 only receptacle of intelligence, of instincts and of volition : for 

 to admit this proposition of Flourens would be to grant that an 

 animal which retains the power of locomotion, which makes 

 every effort to escape from irritation, which preserves its appro- 

 priate attitude, and executes the same movements after as be- 

 fore mutilation, may perform all those actions without the agency 

 of the will or of instinct. Another doctrine of Flourens, which 

 has been experimentally refuted by Bouillaud, is, " that the 

 cerebral lobes concur as a whole in the full and entire exercise 

 of their functions ; that when one sense is lost, all are lost ; 

 when one faculty disappears, all disappear ;" in short, that a 

 certain amount of cerebral matter may be cut away without ap- 

 parent injui'y, but that when this limit is passed, all voluntary 

 acts and all perceptions perish simultaneously. Bouillaud, on 

 the contrary, has described several experiments which show 

 that animals, from whom the anterior or frontal part of the brain 

 had been removed, preserved sight and hearing, though de- 

 prived of the knowledge of external objects, and of the power 

 of seeking their food. 



The second part of M. Bouillaud's researches is entirely de- 

 voted to the functions of the anterior lobes of the brain. These 

 were either removed by the scalpel, or destroyed by the actual 

 cautery, in dogs, rabbits and pigeons. Animals thus mutilated 

 feel, see, hear and smell ; are easily alarmed, and execute a 

 number of voluntary acts, but cease to recognise the persons 



* Magendie, Journal de Physiolorjie, torn. x. p. 361 



