1888-89.] Dr James Oliver on a Uterine Nerve Centre. 177 
mass, free from any semblance of structural differentiation. Habitual 
localisation of function, however, produces eventually a specialisation 
of structure, and with it the evolution of a nerve tract, whereby inter- 
dependence is maintained. It is therefore feasible to suppose that 
the nerve centre, which regulates the process of assimilation (the 
pneumogastric nerve centre), is either in close apposition, or at least 
in more or less direct communication, with that centre which presides 
over the organs of generation. All the visceral functions are now 
performed automatically, and appear to be regulated by nerve centres 
located in the medulla oblongata. It is feasible, therefore, to sur- 
mise that the uterine functions are governed by an automatic centre 
— a centre which, because of some innate quality, is thrown into a 
state of trepidation, and produces thereby evidence of associated 
disturbance in the uterus itself. 
When the uterus becomes the nidus for a developing germinal mass, 
the molecular state of the organ is altered, and certain new impulses 
are generated. The waves of motion, resulting from segmentation of 
the ovum and further evolution of the chick, are radiated through the 
agency of the uterus and its afferent nerve fibres to the uterine or re- 
productive centre. These disturbances occurring in the uterus are in 
excess of those commonly generated, so too the disturbances corre- 
latively produced in the uterine centre are greatly in excess of those 
usually developed. The extra amount of motion must discharge 
itself in some other direction until time has accustomed the uterine 
centre to the augmentation. The direction the overflow of energy 
shall take, is determined according to existing nerve communications, 
and that centre is likely to be first affected, by such radiations, which 
is in closest proximity. Considering, therefore, the intimate relation- 
ship that exists throughout life between the process of assimilation 
and the process of generation, it is not astonishing that the excess 
of molecular motion transmitted to the uterine centre should be 
radiated to and expend itself upon that governing the nutritive 
processes generally. In consequence of this there occurs early in 
pregnancy, and for a greater or less length of time, sickness, and in 
some women cough. At present we know but little of the nervous 
mechanism of vomiting. The respiratory centre seems, however, to 
participate in the act. Both phenomena, however (sickness and 
cough), in the pregnant woman may with some amount of assurance 
VOL. xvi. 7/6/89 m 
