436 General Notes. [ April, 
PHYSIOLOGY. 
LOCALIZATION OF FUNCTION IN THE Brain. — The question 
at present of most fundamental interest in the physiology of the 
brain is, whether the various functions of the mind are delegated 
to special nervous centers of the cerebral cortex; in other words, 
is or is there not, localization of function in the brain. It is ad- 
mitted by all physiologists that ordinary involuntary actions, like 
those of respiration, deglutition, &c., are aroused by impulses 
proceeding from pretty definitely localized nervous centers; but 
it has been a question of serious dispute as to whether psychical 
functions are likewise anatomically distributed over the nerve- 
cell—containing cortex of the cerebrum. Dr. Ferrier, of London, 
and Professor Goltz, of Strassburg, have been the chief exponents 
of the two extreme views on the subject. The former, in accord- 
lation of it would call the function into play. The principal 
objection to Ferrier's experiments, that his animals were no 
allowed to live long enough after the operation to give fair chance 
of recovery from the effects of the shock, has been set aside In 
the case to be considered, that of a monkey which was killed 
and submitted to post-mortem examination after having lived in 
1ealth for seven months succeeding an operation on the left side 
of the brain. Professor Goltz, working on dogs, has come 1 
the purely psychical powers lost their acuteness until, whens 
e 
almost total annihilation of the powers of judgment and ae 
tion. According to Goltz, the sole function of the cerebru ae 
to serve as the seat of the purely psychical powers, and a a 
of sensation or of motion, which may result from injury ye 
the indirect effects of enfeebled perception. Goltz attribu ‘er, t0 
definite paralyses and losses of sensation, obtained by peo 
direct inhibition of these functions due to inhibitory ™ 
proceeding from the injured parts. 
; Michig® 
‘This department is edited by Professor Henry SEWALL, of Ann Arbo® 
