396 Dr. Haighton's experimental Inquiry 
entertain hopes of his recovery, and had that eventually hap- 
pened, I doubt much whether, even under the present uncer- 
tainty of things, I could have resisted the temptation of ascrib- 
ing such recovery to the reproduction of the nerves ; but the 
event put a stop to my speculation. 
I think 1 have now proved my first position, (viz.) that 
whether the eighth pair of nerves be divided in immediate 
succession, so as to deprive an animal of their influence sud- 
denly, ok whether this deprivation be effected in a more gra- 
dual way, the consequences are in the end equally fatal. I must 
next endeavour to avail myself of this fact in the solution of 
the problem now before me. If the substance of nerve be re- 
produced, certainly a period longer than the above must be 
necessary for this process ; but to mark the precise point of 
time when the line is to be drawn, would require the sacrifice 
of more animals than a question of mere curiosity could jus- 
tify. I must, therefore, content myself with giving a general 
answer to the question, and inquire whether, by suspending 
the division of the second nerve for a much greater length of 
time than was done in the two last experiments, the existence 
of the animal could be preserved. 
EXPERIMENT. 
Another dog being procured, and one of the nerves of the 
eighth pair divided, I allowed six weeks to elapse before the 
other was cut through. This division of the corresponding 
nerve evidently deranged him ; but in a much less degree than 
in the former experiments. For some days he refused solid 
food, but took milk; afterwards he ate solid food in small 
quantities ; and near a month had passed away before he fed 
