322 
POPULAR SCIENCE REVIEW. 
certain facial muscles, e.g. the zygomatics, &c. At the posterior termination 
of the inferior frontal convolution and corresponding part of the ascending 
frontal are the centres for various movements of the mouth and tongue. 
This is the homologue of “Broca’s convolution.” At the inferior angle of 
the intraparietal sulcus is the centre for the platysma. In the superior 
frontal convolution, in advance of the centre for certain forward movements 
of the arm, as well as in the corresponding part of the middle frontal con- 
volution, are areas, stimulation of which causes lateral (crossed) movements 
of the head and eyes, and dilatation of the pupils. The antero-frontal region, . 
with the inferior frontal and orbital convolutions, give no definite results on 
irritation. Extirpation of these parts causes a condition resembling 
dementia. No results could be ascertained as regards the function of the 
central lobe or island of Beil. Irritation of the angular (pil courbe) causes 
certain movements of the eyeballs and pupils. Destruction of this convolu- 
tion gives data for regarding it as the cerebral expansion of the optic nerve, 
and, as such, the seat of visual perception. The phenomena resulting from 
irritation of the superior temporo-sphenoidal convolution (pricking of the ear, 
&c.) are indications of excitation of ideas of sound. It is regarded as the 
cerebral termination of the auditory nerve. The sense of smell is localized 
in the uncinate convolution. The situation of the regions connected with 
sensations of taste and touch is not accurately defined, but some facts are 
given indicating their probable locality. Of course this valuable paper will 
appear in full, with illustrations, in the “ Philosophical Transactions.” 
Secondary Action of Snake-poisons on the Muscles . — One of the longest 
essays that we have almost ever seen — with the exception of Dr. Carpen- 
ter’s in the “ Proceedings of the Boyal Society ” — is that on the effects of 
snake-poisons, published Dr. Fayrer and Dr. Brunton (No. 149). In this, 
among other facts of the greatest interest and importance, they state that 
the muscles of the part into which the poison has been introduced are very 
apt to undergo rapid decomposition. “We have already shown that their 
irritability is either lessened, or completely destroyed, bv the action of the 
venom ; and it seems very probable that the mere contact of any other 
foreign body, containing Bacteria or their germs (as the water in Which the 
cobra-poison was dissolved in our experiments certainly did) would suffice 
to explain the decomposition of the muscle without assuming any special 
putrefactive action on the part of the poison ; for the muscle, which has 
been at least temporarily killed by the poison, is placed in the body in the 
most favourable conditions of temperature and moisture for the occurrence 
of decomposition whenever any germs are brought into contact with it. 
However, Weir Mitchell found that the venom of the rattlesnake had a 
curious influence upon muscle, which could hardly be explained without 
the supposition that the poison had a peculiar disorganizing action upon the 
muscular tissue. In every instance the venom softened the muscle in pro- 
portion to the length of time it remained in contact with it ; so that, even 
after a few hours, in warm-blooded animals, and after a rather longer time in 
the frog, the wounded muscle became almost diffluent, and assumed a dark 
colour and somewhat jelly-like appearance. The structure remained entire 
until it was pressed upon or stretched, when it lost all regularity, and 
offered, under the microscope, the appearance of a minute granular mass.” ; 
