596 
MISCELLANEA. 
the metropolis and Havre, as being of more than usual interest, in 
consequence of the supply of live cattle from France not having 
been of so common occurrence as from other of the continental 
states of Europe. We perceive that a vessel has now arrived at 
the Brunswick Wharf, Blackwall, with an entire cargo of cattle 
from Nieuport, comprising 144 oxen and cows of French produce. 
The name of the vessel bringing the cargo alluded to is the 
Emerald, which, we believe, to be one of the steam packets which 
was previously a passenger boat between London and Boulogne. 
We need scarcely remark, no importation of horned cattle to this 
extent from France has, on any former occasion, taken place, and 
the arrival is of very considerable interest. — Times, Sept. 23. 
Physiological Action of Chloroform. 
To understand the physiological action of this substance, it is 
necessary to remember that sensation is dependent, first, on the 
existence of consciousness, which is a function of the brain 
proper (that is, all that portion of the encephalon situated above 
the corpus callosum); secondly, on the integrity of the spinal 
cord ; and, thirdly, on the integrity of the expanded filaments of 
the nerves which receive the impression. Loss of sensation may 
be caused by injuring either of these portions of the nervous sys- 
tem ; for, if the nervous filaments are diseased, impressions cannot 
be received; if the spinal cord be injured, impressions are not 
transmitted to the brain ; and, if the brain be disordered, the con- 
sciousness of the impression is not experienced. Now, the object 
of giving chloroform ought to be to suspend the brain’s functions 
without affecting the spinal cord, the medulla oblongata, or the 
sensibility of nerves, and thus produce loss of sensation by ren- 
dering the mind unconscious of the impressions made upon nerves. 
It is questionable, therefore, whether chloroform or ether should 
be denominated anaesthetic agents, because anaesthesia is gene- 
rally understood to mean loss of sensibility in a part ; whereas, in 
point of fact, it is suspension of the faculties of mind, and uncon- 
sciousness of external stimuli, that they produce. In man this is 
rendered apparent by the fact that the functions of circulation, 
respiration, uterine contractions, &c. proceed during the comatose 
state, which would not be the case if the sensibility of the nerves 
distributed to those organs was destroyed. In animals similar facts 
may at once be demonstrated by the action of galvanism, which, 
when they are perfectly comatose, produces convulsions, spasms, 
and other reflex movements. — Dr. H. Bennett's Report, Edin- 
burgh Monthly Journal, Jan. L848. 
