THE FUNCTIONS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 
271 
periments, an account of which the Society did me the honour to publish in 
1822 , and which have been repeated with the same result by M. Brechet and 
other physiologists at Paris, that the nervous power is capable of its function 
after it has been made to pass through other conductors than the nerves. 
It would seem, therefore, that however generally the nervous power has been 
confounded with those powers more strictly called vital, it is only an agent 
employed by them. This view of the subject seemed to point out the possibility 
of finding some of those powers which operate in inanimate nature capable of 
the functions of the nervous power properly so called, if brought to operate 
under the same circumstances ; and on trial it was found, as appears from ex- 
periments published in the Philosophical Transactions of 1822 and 1828 , and 
repeated with the same result by Dr. Abel*, M. Brechet'P and others, that 
galvanism may be substituted for the nervous power, not only in the more 
simple, but in the more complicated functions of that power. It not only 
appears that galvanism is capable of exciting the muscles and causing an 
evolution of caloric from arterial bloody, but of forming the secreted fluids 
from the blood, and supporting all those functions on which the structure of 
the body depends. How far do the whole of these facts, whether relating to 
the nature or functions of the nervous power, go in proving its identity with 
galvanism ? 
On reviewing what has been said of the relations of the sensorial, nervous, 
and muscular powers, the question naturally arises ; If both the nervous and 
muscular powers are thus independent of the sensorial power, and capable of 
their functions after it is withdrawn, why do the more perfect animals for so 
short a time survive the loss of the sensorial functions ? The cause is, that on the 
removal of the sensorial power, respiration ceases ; because this function par- 
takes of all the three powers, the sensorial, nervous, and muscular. 
It has been customary to speak of the muscles of respiration as at least in 
part muscles of involuntary motion. What is meant by a muscle of voluntary 
* The London Medical and Physical Journal for May 1820, vol. xliii. p. 385. 
j- De l’lnfluence du Systeme Nerveux sur la Digestion Stomacale ; par MM. Breschet, D.M.P., 
chef de Travaux Anatomiques de la Faculte de Medecine de Paris, etc. ; H. Milne Edwards, D.M.P. ; 
et Vavasseur, D.M.P. (Memoire lu a la Societe Philomatic la 2 Aout, 1823.) Extrait des Archives 
Generales de Medecine, Aout 1 823. 
+ My Treatise on the Vital Functions, third edition, Exper. 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86. 
