16 Mr. H. F. Baxter on Nerve Force. 



one part and transmitted to another. Mr. Huxley, however, 

 after describing the connexion existing between the ganglionic 

 corpuscle and the nerve-fibres, very pertinently asks, " What are 

 the properties of ganglionic corpuscles V 9 This appears to me 

 to be the very question requiring solution. Do they originate 

 nerve force which is transmitted by the nerves to other parts ? 

 or do they merely serve as the means of intercommunication 

 with the various parts of the nervous system, the whole extent 

 of the nervous system originating nerve force ? 



The evidence upon which it is generally assumed that nerve 

 force arises in one part and is transmitted to another, rests 

 upon the non-transmission of impressions when the continuity 

 of the nervous trunk is interrupted either, as in our experiments, 

 by section or removal, or by disease. Here, however, we assume 

 the non -transmission of impressions to be identical with the non- 

 transmission of force, and therefore it leaves the question as to 

 the parts originating nerve force undecided. Brown- Sequard 

 has been obliged to draw " a distinction between the property of 

 conduction or transmission and the property of being sensitive 

 or impressionable." He says, " The nerve fibres of the cerebral 

 lobes are conductors, but they are not excitable, not impressionable ; 

 and so is the grey matter of the spinal cord : when it exists alone, 

 establishing the communication between two parts of the spinal 

 cord, after a transverse section of the whole of the white matter, 

 it conducts, it transmits to the brain the sensitive impressions 

 made on impressionable organs behind the section, but when 

 irritated it does not transmit anything, because it is not im- 

 pressionable*." Here, then, we are obliged to suppose the same 

 property, the same mode of conduction to be associated with two 

 portions of the nervous system presenting such different anato- 

 mical characters. 



Assuming it possible that nerve force might be generated in 

 the ganglionic portion as suggested by Dr. Todd, it appeared 

 probable that a difference in the nutritive actions in it, when 

 compared with those of the white fibrous matter, might be 

 observed — that a greater activity would be manifested, and 

 hence produce a more powerful nerve current. To ascertain this 

 point the following experiments were performed. 



§ III. On the electric condition of the ganglionic or vesicular 



portion of the nervous substance. 



In order to lay open the skull easily and readily, young 



animals (guinea-pigs and rabbits) were used, and after being 



pithed the brain was exposed, a section made, and one electrode 



placed in contact with the divided surface, whilst the other was 



* Lecture II. 



