the opinion of Legallois and the original opinion
of M. Flourens;
12. The extraordinary difference of removing
the brain and medullse, at once, and in successive
portions at distinct intervals ;
13. The erroneous mode of explanation of this
fact, given by Legallois; another suggested ;
14. The temporary independence of the circulation
in the minute and capillary vessels, of the
entire nervous masses, brain, medullse, and ganglia;
15. The effect of opium and alcohol upon the
batrachia;
16. The effect of alcohol applied to the brain
and spinal marrow, upon the action of the heart
and the circulation;
17. The effect of crushing the brain and spinal
marrow; compared with
18. The effect of crushing other organs or parts,
upon the circulation ;
19. The general sympathy of these different
organs proved by these experiments; and
20. The want of any physiological deduction
as to the natural functions of the parts themselves
individually ;
21. The effects of irritants applied to the
web, upon the vessels which pass between its
membranes ;
22. The impossibility of forming any deduction
from this experiment, upon the nature and function
of the true capillaries;
23. The singular phenomenon of a caudal heart
or ventricle in the eel;
24. The test of muscular structure afforded by
water of temperatures moderately higher than that
of the blood.
The history of opinion on the subjects of this
Essay, is as follows :
1. There is no accurate account of the Anatomy
of the minute and capillary vessels; the sketch
of the pulmonary vessels given by Malpighi, is, •
however, a literary curiosity, and highly interesting,
considering its early date ;
2. The circulation of the blood was first amply
proved from anatomy and experiment by Harvey;
3. Harvey, Haller, and Spallanzani, alike erred
in denying a muscular power to the arteries ;
4. Bichat doubly erred, 1. by denying the