XXXVI 
Abbe fontana on the 
be nervous, be not rather difeafes of the fluids, than difeafes of 
the blood. The fufpicion is great, the figns equivocal ; the prin- 
ciple is Ihewn not to be general. I would not here affert, that no 
diforder could ever be derived from the nerves ; this would be 
running into one extreme in order to avoid another. There is 
no doubt but that many difeafes are nervous in their origin, and 
that many others become fo from diforders which have began 
in other parts, and thofe merely fluid. The illnefles which 
arife from mental uneafinefs fhew us the power of the nerves 
on living bodies. But all this does not prove that all the 
difeafes attributed to the nerves are nervous ; and that the 
ordinary figns of this diforder are not equivocal. And it is cer- 
tain, that the poifons we have examined have no immediate 
adtion on the nerves, as has been commonly believed hitherto. 
Some may objedt to this, that the poifon of the viper and the 
American poifon may adt on the extremities of the nerves, and 
that for this reafon they are innocent when applied to the trunk 
of the nerves. But this would be to objedt merely for the fake of 
objection, and to fancy unneceflary difficulties. The fmalleft 
variation of circumftance would then be fufficient grounds for 
obje&ion ; and who may not find a variety in things when it is 
fo difficult to meet with two things alike ? As for myfelf, I ob- 
ferve that the internal fubftance of the trunks of the nerves does 
not appear different from that which forms the extremities of 
thofe nerves, that the trunk is fubjedt to pain the fame as the 
extremities, and that I am no inventor of hypothefes which are 
not confirmed by fadts. 
In the universality of the confequences which I have deduced 
from my experiments, I may be deceived ; and I may even be 
deceived in fome of the experiments themfelves, notwithftand- 
ing that they have been very carefully conduced, and that I 
have fought after truth without prejudice. I do not doubt, but 
that thofe who may apply themfelves to fuch refearches after 
me, may find fome things to add, and, perhaps, fome to corredt 
alfo. It is fufficient for me to have opened a channel to new 
truths, and that the principal fads which I have advanced are 
true. 
The 
