on which the action of the heart depends , &c. 87 
circulation ceases. If some time intervene between the divi- 
sion and the destruction of precisely the same part, the cir- 
culation is not interrupted. 
M. le Gallois’ explanation of these facts cannot surely 
be admitted, and indeed is inconsistent with his own positions. 
He found, that confining the circulation to a less extent, by 
throwing ligatures round the large vessels at some distance 
from the heart, enables this organ to support the circulation 
under circumstances where it would otherwise have failed. 
Writers on midwifery have, on the same principle, recom- 
mended compressing the arteries of the limbs when the powers 
of the heart are much weakened by hemorrhagy. From this 
experiment, compared with others, M. le Gallois infers, that 
when the spinal marrow is destroyed by small portions, the 
circulation, in the parts corresponding to these portions, being 
impeded, the effect is similar to that produced by the ligatures. 
Now, although it were ascertained that the circulation is im- 
peded in any part by destroying the portion of the spinal 
marrow from which it is supplied with nerves, which I think 
may easily be shown not to be the case, this explanation would 
still be in opposition to M. le Gallois' fundamental position : 
“ Que la quantity, que le contingent de forces, que chaque 
“ portion de moelle fournit a cet organe, egale pour le moins 
“ celles dont il auroit strictement besoin pour entretenir la 
“ circulation dans les seules parties correspondantes a cette 
“ portion.” When the ligatures were thrown around the 
vessels, the heart was deprived of none of its supposed nervous 
influence. When, on the contrary, portions of the spinal 
marrow were successively destroyed, as far as this is supposed 
to confine the circulation, it must also, according to M. le 
