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the general sensorium , which appears to consist of tlie medulla 
spinalis, medulla oblongata, together with that portion of the 
cerebrum and cerebellum from which the nerves directly arise ; 
and thirdly, the nerves themselves.” 
This luminous conception of the general sensorium being 
co-extensive with the origin of all the nerves, and not confined 
to the brain, or to some particular part of the brain, was unhap- 
pily not in harmony with the views then general. Had it been 
adopted, I cannot but think that we should now have been 
much further advanced than we are. Be this as it may, for the 
present we have to show its bearing on the Reflex Theory. 
“ The external impressions,” he says, “ which are made on the 
sensory nerves, are quickly transmitted along the whole length 
of the nerves, as far as them origin,” — that is to say, as far 
as the spinal centre, or sensorium , — “ and having arrived 
there they are reflected by a certain law, and pass on to certain 
corresponding motor nerves, through which, being very quickly 
transmitted to muscles, they excite certain definite motions.” 
He adduces a number of examples, — sneezing, coughing, 
winking, convulsive movements of epilepsy, retraction of 
pricked limbs, and all the actions in decapitated animals; so that 
it was impossible for any one, conversant with his work, not to 
see that he had anticipated much of what Marshall Hall claimed 
to have discovered. Accordingly, the charge of plagiarism was 
raised against Marshall Hall, and much heartburning was 
excited. But, on this point. Hall is certainly blameless. It is true 
that Prochaska had explained reflex phenomena, had named 
them reflex, and had assigned the spinal chord with the sensory 
and motor nerves, as the mechanism by which they were 
effected. But, in the first place, Prochaska’s views had fallen 
into utter neglect ; and, in the next place, Marshall Hall’s 
theory was, in some respects, different from that of Prochaska. 
So complete was the neglect, that when Marshall Hall declares 
he had never heard of these views, until his critics challenged 
his originality, we are bound to believe him ; we are bound, by 
the general principle, that the word of an honourable man is 
not lightly to be doubted ; and by the overwhelming presump- 
tion against the likelihood of his having seen Prochaska’ s work. 
His critic in the British and Foreign Medical Review asserted 
that if Hall’s denial were true, such ignorance was “ discreditable 
to him as a scholar ;” he ought to have been acquainted “ with 
so striking a work as that of the Professor of Prague.” Now, 
as far as my researches extend, n o eminent physiologist, English 
or German, had taken any notice of Prochaska’s views. 
Rudolphi, one of the most eminent and erudite, does indeed 
include Prochaska’s anatomical tract, Be Struciura Nervorum, 
(which has nothing to do with the reflex theory,) in his 
bibliography; but he mentions no other work, and makes no 
