72 



Animal mucus 

 and uree. 



Structure of 

 the brain <md 

 nervjus sys- 

 tem. 



Analogy of 

 structure in 

 animals. 



Coats of the 

 nerves compo- 

 sed of nervous 



laments. 



Nirfrel, 



SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



begin to evaporate, notwithstanding still retain nearly a third 

 of their weight of water. 



Messrs. Fourcioy and Vauquelin have presented two im- 

 portant memoirs, one on animal mucus, the other on uree. 



Among the anatomical subjects, that have engaged the 

 attention of the class, few are so interesting as the memoir 

 on the structure of the bra'm and nervous system by Drs. 

 Gall and Spurzheim of Vienna. Accovding to these gen- 

 tlemen, the cinereous or cortical substance is the organ, from 

 which issue the nervous tilaments, that constitute the white 

 medullary substance. Wherever the cinereous substance 

 exists, some of these filaments originate ; and wherever any 

 of these filaments commence, this substance will be found. 

 The spinal marrow is not a bundle of nerves descending 

 from the brain: on the contrary the nerves termed cerebral 

 may be traced to the medulla oblongata or spinalis; and 

 the brain and cerebellum themselves are but developements 

 of fasciculi from the medulla oblongata, in the same man- 

 ner as the nerves come from it. The committee have found 

 almost all the anatomical observations of Drs. G. and S, 

 agreeable to nature: but they think it proper to add, that 

 this has no connection whatever with' Dr. Gall's theory of 

 the appropriation of different part of the brain to the dif- 

 ferent functions of the mind. 



Prof. Dumeril has considered in new points of view the 

 bones and muscles of the trunk in man and various animals. 

 The grand principle he seeks to establish is, that nature is 

 as uniform as possible in her means, continuing the same 

 through numerous varieties, as long as they are effective, 

 and never adding a new organ, unless when new circum- 

 stances require greater efforts and more powerful means. 



Mr. Villars of Strasburg, has presented two papers on the 

 structure of the nerves. He thinks he has perceived, by 

 means of the microscope, that the covering of the nerves is 

 itself composed of nervous filaments : but the committee, 

 notwithstanding they have taken great pains to ascertain 

 this, could not satisfy themselves of the fact. • 



The anatomy of plants is indebted for many new and 

 important facts to the researches of Mr. Mirbel. The 

 "Royal Society of Gottingen, having made this anatomy 



a sub.* 



