surface should enfeeble the circulation, and, if
applied to the brain and spinal marrow, should
quicken it.
III. Of t h e E x p e r im e n t o f C r u s h in g t h e
B r a in a n d S p in a l M a r r o w .
There can be little doubt that Dr. Philip’s explanation
of the discrepancies in Legallois’ experiments,
and of the difference between removing and crushing
the brain and spinal marrow, is partly correct.
But, having observed certain effects upon the action
of the heart from crushing the brain or spinal
marrow, Dr. Philip deduces from them certain conclusions
in regard to the peculiar functions of these
parts of the nervous system. It may I think be
doubted whether these conclusions be legitimate.
For it may be asked,—Were the results observed,
the effects of crushing these organs specially, or
the mere effect of violence and injury inflicted
generally ? What would be the comparative results
of crushing other parts or organs, as the stomach,
a limb, &e. ? And lastly, does the experiment of
crushing the brain and spinal marrow really lead to
any accurate knowledge of the peculiar functions
of these individual organs ?
And the influence of crushing, compared with
simply removing the nervous masses, is, I think to
be taken in conjunction with the influence of time
allowed to elapse between successive parts of the
operation on which I have already said so much,
before we can fully explain all the important facts
mentioned by Legallois.
Dr. Philip observes, that in Legallois’ experiments
“ the spinal marrow was always crushed, by
a stilet of the same dimensions with the cavity of
the spine whereas, in his own it was either
removed, or destroyed by a comparatively small
wire, moved about in it till its functions ceased. 1
I have not been able to find this circumstance mentioned,
in Legallois’ work. On the other hand, he
speaks,2 of introducing the stilet between the
vertebrae into the spine ; so that I think the instrument
could not be of so large dimensions as Dr.
Philip imagines. And other circumstances prove
that the effect observed did not entirely depend
upon the mode of operation. A paragraph at page
106 of Legallois’ work illustrates this point, whilst
it details an interesting and valuable fact, which
* P. 88.
2 OEuvres de Legallois, Paris, 1824, p. 100.