THE HUNTERIAN ORATION. 
161 
“ And lastly, of having been the first who, dissatisfied with the 
observation and study of the mere form of the various parts of 
the nervous system, applied the method of experiment to aid him 
in determining their functions. 
“In a word, there belongs to Bell the great discovery, the 
greatest in the physiology of the nervous system for twenty cen- 
turies, that distinct portions of that system are appropriated to 
the exercise of different functions. 
“Valuable practical precepts were immediately deduced from 
these discoveries, and at once applied by Sir Charles Bell and 
Mr. John Shaw. Perhaps the most important was the distinc- 
tion of a local nervous affection from that which depends on dis- 
ease of the brain. 
“ Even supposing, however, that this were the sole practical 
lesson as yet deduced from Sir Charles Bell’s discoveries, it 
would be unjust to measure their merit by this alone. Indepen- 
dently of the direct instruction to be derived from them, they 
have brought physiologists to the true path ; and, should the dim 
veil which nature has thrown over the operations of the nervous 
system be once drawn up, it will ever be remembered that Charles 
Bell first constructed the machinery for raising it. 
“ It is instructive to remark and to remember, that Sir Charles 
Bell did not make very numerous experiments on living animals ; 
but, guided by a careful study of the anatomy of the parts, and 
reflecting on the spontaneous experiments, so to speak, furnished 
by disease, he was led to form views, which, supported by a few 
well-planned experiments, discovered to him the truth, and ena- 
bled him to convert the guesses of former observers into admitted 
facts. 
“ Had Sir Charles Bell not been a surgeon or a physiologist 
he might have been an artist, so admirable were his drawings, and 
so exquisite his perception of the beautiful. This talent was with 
him a favourite, and might be cited as an instance of ‘ the ruling 
passion strong in death for he was employed in sketching the 
gay scenery of Worcestershire but a few hours before his de- 
cease ; and the leisure hours of the last few months of his life 
had been employed by him in preparing for the press a new edi- 
tion of his work on the Anatomy of Expression. I ought rather 
to say re-writing it, so much additional manuscript does it pre- 
sent, and so many additional illustrations from the study he had 
recently made of the great productions in painting and sculpture 
at Rome and Florence. 
“ It was in the summer of 1840 that his love of art led him to 
Italy, in order that he might become more intimately acquainted 
with the master-pieces that enrich it. During this tour he kept 
VOL. XV]. Y 
