350 
DR. PHILIP ON THE POWERS OF LIFE. 
Has the nervous influence any immediate dependence on any of the other powers 
of the animal frame ? 
The muscular, we have seen, has no immediate dependence on the nervous power, 
the only power on which its immediate dependence can be supposed. In like manner 
the sensorial is the only power on which any immediate dependence of the nervous 
power can be supposed. 
I made an extensive set of experiments, detailed in my Inquiry into the Laws of the 
Vital Functions, to which I shall soon have occasion to refer more particularly, from 
which it appears that all the functions of the nervous power properly so called survive 
the removal of the sensorial power, with the exception, of course, of those in which 
that power is associated with it. After the removal of the sensorial power the nervous 
influence is still capable of all its other functions. It is still capable of exciting the 
muscles both of voluntary and involuntary motion, of, for a short space of time, 
forming the secreted fluids, performing the various functions of assimilation, so far 
as to preserve the structure of parts where it would otherwise have been impaired, 
and, to a certain degree, of maintaining animal temperature. The nervous, like the 
muscular power, therefore, is an independent power, having its seat in its own organs, 
and having no other dependence on the other powers of the living animal than for 
the due structure of those organs. 
Such are the powers of the nervous and muscular systems of the more perfect 
animals, and the seat and functions of these powers. 
They possess however two other sources of power, for the sensorial power and the 
powers of the living blood have no immediate dependence on either of the former 
powers, or on each other. 
That the only dependence of the sensorial power is for the maintenance of its 
organs, is evident on the most cursory review of the animal economy. The nature of 
the functions of that power alone evinces that the living animal possesses no others 
from which it can be derived ; and that the powers of living blood have no direct 
dependence on its other powers, is proved by the fact, that the blood retains its vital 
properties after it is separated from the body*. 
With respect to the locality of the latter powers, the powers of the living blood, 
it appears from the fact just stated, existing in itself, must be coextensive with 
the functions of secretion and assimilation. At first view it would appear that the 
functions of the sensorial power, like those of the living blood, pervade every part of 
the system ; the power of sensation seems to pervade the whole frame. On ob- 
serving the phenomena with more care however, we find the seat of the sensorial 
power confined to a small space, when we compare it with that of the nervous power 
properly so called, the organs of which, we have seen, pervade the whole of the 
brain and spinal marrow. 
* See Mr. Hunter’s experiments on the Blood, and the experiments detailed in the last chapter of the 
second part of my Inquiry into the Laws of the Vital Functions. 
