THE GREAT ORGANIC NERVE. 
475 
brought successively within the influence of the gastric juice. 
Here^are plainly displayed the functions of the two nerves, the 
great organic penetrating the coats of the stomach, and produc¬ 
ing the secretion of the solvent fluid—the cerebro-visceral pro¬ 
ducing the peristaltic motion : and so it is throughout the intes¬ 
tinal canal;—we have the phrenic nerve to assist in the compres¬ 
sion and final expulsion of the food by contracting the diaphragm 
and diminishing the abdominal cavity, while the abdominal and 
thoracic muscles are contributing their aid by means of these 
frequent anastomoses. 
And now, gentlemen, I have done with the nervous system. 
Of the nature of the nervous agency or fluid, or of the mysteri¬ 
ous presiding power, whether it regards the animal or organic 
life, or both, I will not say a word. You will refer, at some 
period of serious leisure, to the speculations of physiologists on 
these abstruse but interesting points. You will find in Dr. 
Bostock's excellent “ Compendium of Physiology/ 5 a clear state¬ 
ment and luminous comparison of all that has been said and 
written. With regard to this great organic nerve, you will have 
the most laboured and the best account of its functions in a note 
by Dr. Copland, appended to his Translation of Richerand; 
although the mere experimentalist, perhaps, will tell you that it 
is nothing but “ supposition, hypothesis, and opinion—a mere 
jeu <T esprit.” But I must conclude. 
I feel, and you must have experienced, how difficult it is in a 
few lectures, and even assisted by demonstrations, to give a clear 
as well as comprehensive view of such a subject. If, however, I 
have succeeded in convincing you, with regard to the animal- 
system at least, that it is not so mysterious as you, perhaps, 
had imagined, and if I have afforded the slightest clue to the 
understanding of a portion of the organic system, I am con¬ 
tent. As for"my peculiar opinions, I have stated none of them 
positively. Some of them are adopted, not as being satisfactory, 
but for want of better ones ; and I trust you and I will always be 
open to conviction, and zealous in our search after truth. 
ON CATARACT. 
By Mr. Hickman, V.S. to the South Salopian Regiment of 
Cavalry. 
Since I was in some degree concerned in the case of cataract 
in Mr. Croft's horse's eye, and my opinion of the matter differs 
from that of some of your correspondents, perhaps you will allow 
