CONCLUSION. 85 



the capillary circulation in the mucous membranes, but 

 microscopical anatomy has yet to find them, for minute 

 ganglia have only been discovered at present in sympa- 

 thetic nerve ends of the abdomen. 



On other subjects also, besides that of vaso-motor 

 paralysis, the strychnine treatment of snakebite has 

 thrown an unexpected light. We did not know before it 

 was demonstrated by this treatment that sleep is merely 

 a reduced discharge of motor-nerve force, a partial 

 turning off of the motor-batteries, by which, through 

 rest, they are invigorated for fresh action during the 

 waking hours, and that the degrees of this reduction 

 range in their effects from sleep, more or less deep, 

 down to coma, and can be raised again from coma to 

 sleep, and from sleep to complete wakefulness. We 

 knew that every movement and action is brought 

 about by a discharge of this force, but we did not know 

 that even the silent thought must be carried on the 

 wings of it, and cannot take place without it, at least 

 not in our present state of existence. All these im- 

 portant revelations are now the property of science, 

 and it will be well for science to take note of them. 



In conclusion, the writer may be permitted to 

 express his joy and thankfulness for having been made 

 the instrument, by Divine Providence, to confer a 

 boon on humanity that will prevent much suffering and 

 thousands of premature, untimely deaths. 



