SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
97 
continuance of action after tlie stimulation had ceased. Dr. Ferrier’s ex- 
periments were in the first instance directed to the study of the phenomena 
of epilepsy ; and he found that the application of the electrodes (the animal 
being stupefied by chloroform) to parts of the cortical layer at a distance 
from one another would excite general convulsions, exactly corresponding to 
those of some forms of epilepsy. But, on bringing the electrodes nearer and 
nearer to each other, so as to excite only a particular convolution or part of a 
convolution, he found himself able to call forth co-ordinated movements 
of particular groups of muscles, such as, in an animal in possession of its 
senses, we should regard as expressions of ideas and emotions. A rabbit 
munches, a cat moves its leg and foot as if clutching at a mouse or striking a 
ball, a dog wags its tail from side to side and then erects it, or even executes 
the movements of fawning. The precise localisation of these centres of 
motor activity is proved by the power of prediction which Dr. Ferrier has 
acquired as to the movement which would be caused by each particular 
application of his electrodes. The centres of all these movements are 
located in the anterior lobes, and in the anterior portions of the middle 
lobes ; no movements being called forth by the application of the stimulus 
either to the posterior parts of the middle lobes of the cat or dog, or to the 
posterior lobes of the monkey; while the forward prolongation of their 
anterior lobes is equally irresponsive. Hence these negative results of 
experiment, quantum valeant , confirm the inference previously drawn by 
Dr. Carpenter, from comparative anatomy and from development, that the 
posterior lobes are the instruments of those higher operations resulting in 
ideas which do not prompt to motion.” 
Temperature of the Male as Compared with that of the Female. — A very ex- 
cellent Memoir has appeared on this subject from the pen of Dr. J. Stockton 
Hough, in a new paper, the “ Philadelphia Medical Times,” Nov. 8th, 1873. 
It is worthy of perusal. We merely quote the author’s conclusions. They 
are : 1. That males have, as a rule, from the beginning to the end of life, a 
higher temperature, and a less frequent pulsation of the heart, than females, 
varying, nevertheless, according to temperament, constitution, age, and 
condition of health. 2. That children have a higher temperature at birth, 
and for a short time subsequently, which, though slightly lower than that 
of an adult, nevertheless slowly and gradually declines to a certain point 
until about the sixth year of age is reached, after which it gradually 
increases until developmental maturity is reached, when it gradually and 
slowly declines again as old age (second childhood) advances. The pulsation 
of the heart follows just the opposite course, being most frequent when the 
temperature is lowest, and less frequent when it is highest. 3. That males 
appear to have a greater variation in temperature than females, thus 
agreeing with their greater variation in stature and many other peculiarities. 
4. From all of which we conclude that the woman approaches more to her 
condition as a child than the man does, and is consequently less highly 
developed. The male is a secondary evolution from the female. 
The Different Theories of Digestion are given by M. Claude Bernard 
in a recent lecture, which is published in the u Revue Scientifique de la 
France,” October 18th, 1873. He gives an account of the various theories 
of digestion entertained by men of science from Hippocrates downwards. 
YOL. XIII. NO. L. H 
