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VII. — Influence of the Vagus upon the Vascular System. By William Ruther- 

 ford, M.D., F.R.S.E., Professor of Physiology, King's College, London. 



(Received, April 1869. Read, 3d May 1869.)* 



The innervation of the vascular system is a subject which has engrossed the 

 attention of physiologists ever since the days of Galen. Yet, notwithstanding 

 the number of distinguished observers who have contributed to our knowledge 

 of this difficult topic, there are still many points of the greatest importance 

 which are enveloped in the deepest obscurity, and not a few regarding which 

 opinions are much at variance. 



During the past three years I have been more or less engaged in prosecuting 

 an inquiry, the chief object of which, at the outset, was to ascertain as pre- 

 cisely as possible the influence which the pneumogastric nerve exerts over the 

 heart. But, as the investigation proceeded, various ideas started forth which 

 led me to inquire into the influence which the vagus exerts over certain 

 vascular territories, more especially the blood-vessels of the stomach. This 

 line of research, although intricate and difficult to pursue, has nevertheless led 

 to important results, and has enabled me to throw some light upon the manner 

 in which the tissues rule over the blood-vessels which minister to their nutrition. 



I need not, however, further anticipate here what is fully expounded in the 

 following pages ; but, before proceeding further, I desire to express my deep 

 obligations to many of my pupils for the valuable assistance which they afforded 

 me in the performance of the experiments. My thanks are especially due to 

 Mr Haining, Mr Adam, Mr Alleyne, Mr Hamilton, and Mr Spence, without 

 whose skilful co-operation my kymographic experiments must have lacked 

 much of the precision which they happily possess. 



Innervation of the Heart. 



That the heart possesses within itself the conditions necessary for its 

 rhythmical movement is a theory which was advanced by Galen, and is now 

 believed by all physiologists. 



The peculiar nervous arrangements essential for the rhythmical movement 

 are — as Remak points out — ganglia situated in various parts of the organ. 



* An Abstract of this paper was printed in the Proceedings of the above date. Urgent duties 

 prevented me from preparing the paper in an extended form for the Transactions of 1869. By the 

 permission of the Council its publication has therefore been delayed for a year. 



VOL. XXVI. PART I. 2 F 



