Documents and dates of modern discoveries in the nervous system.

  • Walker, Alexander, 1779-1852.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Documents and dates of modern discoveries in the nervous system. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    draw any safe inference as to the distinctions and the real nature of these classes of organs. After what has been said, there is, indeed, little difficulty in distinguishing the mental conscious and voluntary acts from all others. The great difficulty is to distinguish the vital inconscious and involun- tary from the intermediate or alternating acts. The following consideration, however, I think affords a test: The ganglionic nerves are primarily and directly those only of the tubular organs, which transmit and transmute liquids, and constitute the vital system— hence irritation of the coeliac ganglion accelerates the peristaltic motions of the intestines ; those actions, therefore, can alone be theirs which naturally and directly affect these organs ; and whenever any of THE STRAIGHT MUSCLES EMPLOYED IN OTHER THAN VITAL ACTS ARE INVOLVED, IT MUST BE BECAUSE THE INTERMEDIATE OR ALTERNATING ORGANS ARE DRAGGED INTO VITAL MANIFESTATIONS.* Enough, then, appears to show, that it is accord- ing to the indications which arc here afforded, and which are applicable to still higher objects, that any series of papers on the nervous system should be arranged, so as to afford an enlarged foundation for physiological induction. * How deserving the epithet of “ intermediate or alternating,” the spinal organs are, is now evident.