C >90 3 
VII. An experimental Inquiry concerning the Reproduction of 
Nerves. By John Haighton, M. D. Communicated by Max- 
well Garthshore, M. I). -F. R, S„ 
Read February 2 6, 1 795. 
An animate machine differs from an inanimate one in nothing 
more conspicuously, than in its power of repairing i s injuries, 
and of curing its diseases. 
It is wisely contrived by nature that, in many instances, the 
cause producing the injury lays the foundation for the cure; 
for as injuries, particularly those occasioned by cutting instru- 
ments, are necessarily attended with an effusion of blood, from 
the division of blood-vessels, this fluid, either immediately or 
remotely, fills up the breach. Hence every part possessed of 
vascularity, and consequently of blood, carr es with it the prin- 
ciple by which it repairs its injuries ; and the facility with 
which this process is conducted, geerady hears some propor- 
tion to the freedom of the circulation in each individual part. 
But it has been a subject of inquiry with ana mists and phy- 
siologists, to determine of what nature the new formed j art is, 
and how far it may be said to possess the characters of the ori- 
ginal part. There are few who will deny, that a bone, when 
fractured, fills up the chasm with a substance of its own kind ; 
or that a tendon, when divided, repairs with a substance resem- 
bling itself. But this law of nature is not admitted as univer- 
