Narrative of the discoveries of Sir Charles Bell in the nervous system ... / [Alexander Shaw].

  • Shaw, Alexander, 1804-1890.
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Narrative of the discoveries of Sir Charles Bell in the nervous system ... / [Alexander Shaw]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The power of controlling the muscles was one of these; the power of conveying- sensation from the integuments was another ; and there might he addi¬ tional ones, to which it is not easy to apply any precise name. The opinion, however, prevailed universally —that each nerve proceeding from the brain or spinal marrow possessed several endowments, but at least the two—motion and sensation. This view of the nerves was connected with a simi¬ larly erroneous idea respecting the nature of the brain and spinal marrow. These parts, it was conceived, pos¬ sessed equal powers, throughout their whole substance, of propagating to the body the peculiar properties sup¬ posed to be transmitted by the nerves. For example, taking any division of the brain or spinal marrow, it was considered that this particular part was as capable of dispensing to the muscles the power of motion, or of receiving sensation from the integuments, as any other division. The brain and spinal marrow, in short, were regarded as forming a certain central reservoir of ner¬ vous power ; and whatever nerve was connected with either of them could bestow, of course, both motion and sensation. The reason, it may be conjectured, why physiolo¬ gists laboured so long under these erroneous views, was this:—they placed too much confidence in the results of experiments on living animals, and neglected the anatomy. In all parts of the body (with the ex¬ ception of the head), the trunks of the nerves are really compound. Take any nerve of the arm—the median or ulnar ; or of the lower extremity—the ischiatic or ante-