DR. PHILIP ON THE POWERS OF LIFE. 
345 
in judging of the nature of the nervous influence, and consequently of other func- 
tions of the living animal beside the function of the muscular fibre. 
The powers of the nervous system properly so called, which cooperate with the 
muscular fibre in all the more complicated functions, next demand our attention ; 
and it will appear that there is no other branch of physiology in which the generally 
received opinions have been, and indeed still are, so much at variance with simple 
matter of fact. 
That what in common language is called the nervous system embraces two distinct 
sets of organs is evident ; because not only do the functions of the sensorial and 
nervous organs, properly so called, essentially differ in their nature; but, as we shall 
find, their localities also are different. Now it has generally been taught that the 
nervous functions, properly so called, only administer to those of the sensorial 
power ; that they are limited to the conveyance of impressions to and from the sen- 
sorial organs, and to the excitement of the muscles of voluntary motion*. 
I shall in the first place inquire into the nature of the functions of the nervous 
system properly so called, and then endeavour to ascertain to what parts of that 
system the powers on which those functions depend belong. 
The mere structure of the parts might have led physiologists to suspect that the 
organs of this system possess other powers than those just enumerated. We find two 
distinct classes of nerves, to one of which the functions subservient to the sensorial 
powers evidently belong, and it has never been proved that the other at all partake 
of these functions. Besides, it had appeared from experiments relating to this second 
class of nerves, although their results were differently reported by different writers, 
that they must possess functions of a wholly different nature. 
Such were the circumstances which called my attention to this, as it were super- 
added, class of nerves ; and I think it will appear from the facts I am about to adduce, 
both what are their functions, which we shall find much more complicated than those 
of the former class, and why the results of the experiments just referred to have been 
so differently reported. 
The peculiarity of structure relating to these nerves is, that, while all the former 
class proceed, either from the brain or spinal marrow, directly to the parts they in- 
fluence or which influence them ; they either enter or send branches which enter a 
chain of protuberances called ganglions, from which nerves are sent to the parts in- 
fluenced by them. Hence they are termed ganglionic nerves, a term however, which 
has not been employed in a very strict sense ; because, besides the ganglions just 
mentioned, which receive nerves from different parts of the brain and spinal marrow, 
there are other protuberances also termed ganglions, which are formed on particular 
* See in the Report of the British Association for the Advancement of Science for 1833 a paper by 
Dr. Henry of Manchester ; and a Dissertation on the state of Medical Science from the termination of the 
18th century to the present time by Dr. Allison, Professor of the Institutes of Medicine in the University of 
Edinburgh, in the Cyclopsedia of Practical Medicine, published in 1834. 
MDCCCXXXVI. 2 Y 
