154 THE SPINAL CORD AND CEREBELLUM 



directly, and a portion through the trapezium.* 

 tionsio'the '^^^^ seems to bring the cerebellum into very close 

 vaso-motor connection with the vaso-motor centre, and, when one 



centre. 



considers that its peduncles enclose, so to speak, the 

 whole of that part of the medulla oblongata to which 

 vaso-motor functions are attributed, and that within 

 the same area are to be found the nuclei of almost 

 all the cranial nerves, it becomes evident that this 

 portion of the spinal cord is the seat of some of the 

 fundamental vital processes. One is, therefore, 

 inclined both on general and on special grounds to 

 believe that the cerebellum is very closely connected 

 with the vaso-motor mechanism, and, if there be any 

 truth in this supposition, it enables us to establish an 

 important link between the great cells of Purkinje or 

 ' increase of impulse ' cells and the vaso-motor effects 

 which always accompany an augmentation of func- 

 tional activity in any region of the body whatsoever. 

 Does the Allusion has already been made to the fact that 

 influence sccrotory action may be produced in the submaxillary 

 action gland by direct nervous stimulation irrespective of 

 "^^° ^' vaso-motor impulses, and it has been demonstrated 

 by Bernard, Heidenhain, and others that the nervous 

 system exercises a direct influence on secretion apart 

 from vascular action, f Secretory activity has been 

 caused even in the sweat glands of amputated limbs, X 

 whilst violent perspiration is sometimes accompanied 

 by pallor of the skin, indicating contraction and not 



* Bechterew, loe. cit., p. 393. 



t Ferrier, loc. cit., p. 83. J Ibid., p. 84. 



