The physiology and pathology of the cerebellum / by William A. Hammond.

  • Hammond, William A. (William Alexander), 1828-1900.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The physiology and pathology of the cerebellum / by William A. Hammond. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

    24/44 (page 22)
    Harting' repeated Flourens's experiments, and witli analogous results. He found that the cerebellum was devoid of sensibility; that convulsions were not induced by its irritation ; that the senses remained in a state of integrity, and that no other function appeared to be affected except that which relates to order in the move- ments. He also noticed that, in those cases where the mutilation had been partial only, the power of regu- lating the motions was soon regained. Bouillaud, Longet, and many others have obtained results similar to those of Flourens, and have drawn like conclusions from them. But, very soon after the publication of Flourens's Memoirs, Magendie went over the ground and de- clined to accept his hypothesis. He states' that hedge- hogs and Guinea-pigs, from which he had removed not only the cerebellum, but the cerebrum also, rubbed their noses with their fore-legs when a flask of vine- gar was applied. Now, one such instance, well authenticated, is suffi- cient to overturn Flourens's hypothesis; for, if one ani- mal can coordinate its movements when deprived of its cerebellum, then that organ is not absolutely es- sential to such coordination. Nevertheless, Floureus's views upon the subject have been largely accej^ted, and probably no other theory of cerebellar function can count as many adherents. The arguments which may are, however, so forcible, and experiments performed upon animals of different classes are so strikingly against it, that I am forced to regard his doctrine as un- * Experimenta quajdam de affectibus Ijesionum in partibus encephalc, 1826. ='Pr6cis £l6mentaire de Physiologic. Quatridrae edition. Paris, 1836, t. i., p. 408.