on the Irritability of Nerves. 17 
These experiments, upon so large an animal as the horse, 
made by a person well qualified for the purpose, and repeated 
sufficiently often to preclude any material fallacy, admit of the 
following conclusions being drawn from them. 
1. That the nerves of an animal in health are capable 
of retracting themselves when divided ; and that this effect 
is intirely independent of the parts by which they are 
surrounded. 
2. That this contraction takes place in the nervous fibres 
themselves ; and is independent of the brain, from which they 
originate, and of the muscles and other parts in which they 
terminate. 
3. That the contracted nerve exhibits to the eye an 
appearance of contraction in its fibres, not to be seen when it 
is in a relaxed state. 
As the nerves are so readily influenced by electricity, in ex- 
citing the muscles to action, it naturally suggested itself, that 
some further information might be obtained in the present 
investigation, by means of experiments made upon the nerves 
by the electric fluid. With this view, the following experi- 
ments were instituted; and Mr. Carpue very obligingly assisted 
Mr. Clift in making them, and carried one of Mr. Cuth- 
bertson's large plate-glass electrical machines to the slaughter- 
house, for that purpose. 
Exper. 7. A portion of the phrenic nerve, twelve inches long, 
was exposed, and divided at both ends, as in the former expe- 
uniform in its colour and consistence.— Hence these lines, are in the first place', to be 
considered as folds or joints in the nerve, and may be compared to the lines in the 
pa'lm of the hand, serving to accommodate the nerve to the different states of flexion 
and extension.” (In a note,) “ By soaking in water, this appearance is lost.” 
Monro on the Nervous System, p. 39. 
MDCCCI . D 
