TRANSACTIONS OF THE SECTIONS. 97 



great degree recovered his sight, so as even to distinguish large print. 

 He is still under treatment. 



Results of researches on the Anatomy of the Brain. By Dr. Foville 

 {of Paris). 



He commenced by urging the advantages of examining the struc- 

 ture of the brain by manual separation rather than by section, and 

 gave credit to our countryman Willis, as being the first advocate of 

 this method. He showed that the spinal mariow consists of two lateral 

 portions, united by two commissures, between which, on the median 

 line, there exists a double layer of white matter, analogous to the ven- 

 tricle of the septum lucidum. He pointed out a remarkable difference 

 of structure in the lateral parts of the spinal marrow, between the 

 roots of the nerves, which is rendered most evident by maceration in 

 water, after previous maceration in spirit. He next described the 

 medulla oblongata. Tracing the crura cerebri to the brain, he showed 

 them to consist of two parts, — the one going to the thalamus opticus, 

 the other to the corpus striatum, where they constitute the white 

 matter ; passing through the middle of those bodies, at the upper and 

 outer limits of which they divide into three layers, — the superior, 

 passing upwards and inwards, meets its fellows on the median line, 

 and forms the corpus callosum ; the second, or middle, is expanded in 

 the hemispheres, which it constitutes, by lining the cineritious matter 

 of the convolutions; the third, or inferior, and by far the smallest 

 layer, passes to the outer side of the thalamus and corpus striatum, 

 meets its fellow inferiorly, and, ascending with it, forms the septum 

 lucidum. In addition to these facts, he stated his more recent dis- 

 covery, of several nearly circular systems of white fibres connecting 

 the expansions of the superior part of the crus cerebri, which, from 

 their connexion with the olfactory and optic nerves, and also with the 

 posterior part of the spinal marrow, appear to be essentially devoted to 

 sensation. He also stated his fully-confirmed observations, that the 

 pathological affections of the thalamus influence the movements of the 

 opposite side of the body, as those of the corpus striatum do those of 

 the lower extremity. He noticed a similar connexion between the 

 lesions of the cornu ammonis and the motions of the tongue. He 

 combated the idea, that the frontal, parietal, and occipital protu- 

 berances, are dependent on special development of the corresponding 

 parts of the brain, but are rather to be attributed to the distension of 

 corresponding parts of the ventricles. After the reading of the paper, 

 Dr. Foville demonstrated the leading facts alluded to, on the recent 

 brain. 



On the means employed to suppress Hcemorrhage from Arteries. 

 By Dr. IMacartney. 



The progressive improvements made on this subject constitute some 

 of the most interesting and instructive pages in the history of surgery, 

 1839. H 



