The anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. Vol.I. / [Valentine Flood].

  • Flood, Valentine.
Date:
1828
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The anatomy and physiology of the nervous system. Vol.I. / [Valentine Flood]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    314/332 (page 302)
    word Excitability, in a sense that includes both tlr Irritability of the Muscles and the Impressibility of the Nerves. See p. 209. P. 202, 205. Besides the cases mentioned in the* text of motion remaining in the lower extremities after complete division of the Spinal Marrow, many others have been observed of a similar nature:— one by Mr. Wallace of Dublin, and another, I believe, by Mr. Bell, so that the fact is ascertained beyond all doubt. When the division of the Spinai Marrow occurs above the giving off of the Phrenic Nerve, death happens inevitably : the reason of this difference I am now to assign. The vegetable life of any part of the body, as an extremity, seems to depend solely upon the portion of the Cerebro Spinal Mass, from which it receives its Nerves ; and in some cases the Nerves themselves seem per- fectly adequate to preserve it. The Animal Life of a part (evinced by its possessing voluntary motion and feeling), de- pends on a principle propagated from the Brain through the Spi- nal Marrow and Nerves. Now the efFects of dividing of the Spinal Marrow at different parts must be evident. If divided in the lumbar Region, the parts below are reduced to a state of vegetable existence, in which they will possess the Functions of secretion, Motion, &c., but not voluntary Motion—at least until