The idea, that the ganglia dispersed between the different branches of the sympathetic nerves, have the effect of protecting the filaments of the nerves, reserved for the organic life, from the influence of the animal life, ought to occur, and, in fact, did early occur to physiologists; but why have not the spinal ganglia, which resemble the others so much, the same effect? Of this point we are still ignorant; all is here involved in darkness and obscurity.

It is of no service to science, to offer any new opinion, or revive any old opinion, without having more proofs in support of the one than of the other. It is better openly to confess our ignorance, and to separate distinctly the things which are known from those which are not. The human mind, it is said, supports doubts with difficulty; but it is precisely on that account, that the learning to bear with them ought to be one of the principal studies of men of true learning. The works of some modern physiologists have led to this short digression.

The analogy of the cineritious cortical part of the brain, and cerebellum, with the tubercles in its internal substance, such as the corpora striata, the thalami optici, the nates, &c. is much better established than that of the ganglia. Every one recognizes there nearly identity of substance; sameness of function would there also be readily admitted. But what can we say of the comparison between it and the mucous body which lines the skin, and all its internal prolongations? Here there can only be, with respect to structure, texture, in short, physical nature, a resemblance purely hypothetical. In absence of actual observation, it would require, then, to justify this comparison, some resemblance in the functions, in the uses, in the mode of existence during life; but where shall we find these?

We confess, also, that we do not comprehend the relation between these masses of cineritious matter, where the medullary bundles are strengthened in passing through them, and the rings which surround the base of the young branches of a tree: in trees, the branches go off in succession, one from the other; but

in the nervous system, the whole is formed at once. It is impossible to find here any thing but an accidental resemblance.

Such, gentlemen, is the report which we have thought it our duty to make to you.

We have repeated all the observations of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim; we have even submitted to a new examination, part of those which were made by older authors, but connected with theirs; in fine, we have pointed out the degree of justice which we have found in the old as well as in the new remarks.

We, therefore, think that we have fulfilled, as far as lay in our power, the commission with which the class has honoured

us.

You will now perceive, that we are far from adopting all the views and all the observations related in the memoir of these anatomists, but that we are also far from rejecting them entirely.

Finally, it appears to us, 1st, That Drs. Gall and Spurzheim have the merit, not of having discovered, but of having recalled to the attention of physiologists, the continuity of the fibres which extend from the medulla oblongata into the hemispheres, and into the cerebellum, which Vieussens first detailed, and the decussation of the filaments of the pyramidal eminences described by Mistichelli, by Francis Petit, and by Santorini, but with regard to which, some doubt had been entertained.

2d. That they are the first who have distinguished the two orders of fibres, of which the medullary matter of the hemis pheres appears to be composed; the one of which diverges from the pedunculi, while the other converges towards the commis

sures.

3d. That, by uniting their observations with those of their predecessors, they have made it very probable, that the nerves called cerebral ascend from the medulla oblongata, and do not descend from the brain; and that, in general, they have very much weakened, not to say overturned, the system which makes all the nerves come originally from the brain.

But it also appears to us, 1st, That they have generalized ra

ther in an inconsiderate manner the resemblance of structure, and of functions in the various cineritious, or ash-coloured masses which are met with in the different parts of the nervous system.

2d. That the idea which they, entertain of a solution of continuity in the middle of the medullary matter of each circumvolution, which would permit of its being unfolded like a pipe or a purse, requires to be expressed in more definite terms than they have hitherto done, so as to indicate, that there is no complete proof of an absolute solution of continuity, but only of a more feeble cohesion.

We ought, however, to remark, that these two articles do not affect their general result, with regard to the kind of separation and of reserve into which they place the brain; and we ought, at the same time, to allow physiologists and pathologists to judge how far this kind of separation or laying aside, which anatomy seems to point out, is justified by facts, and how far it may favour the explanation of the numerous and astonishing phenomena of organic and animal life, and especially of those in which these seem sometimes dependent upon, sometimes distinct from each other.

The entering into all these questions would engage us in endless discussions, and foreign to our commission.

Nor shall we propose to the class to decide upon the conclusion drawn by our anatomists, that there is no circumscribed place in the brain to which all the sensations go, and from which all the voluntary motions issue, but that both of these functions may be exercised in a greater or smaller extent of the nervous system.

This opinion is undoubtedly that of Haller, Bonetus, and of the greater number of physiologists. There can be no doubt that it is from having confounded the metaphysical simplicity of the soul with the physical simplicity attributed to atoms, that the desire has originated of placing the seat of the soul in an atom; but the connection of the soul and body being neces

sarily incomprehensible to our minds, the more or less limited sphere which it is wished to give to the sensorium would not, in the smallest degree, assist our conception of it.

But all these subjects are also too foreign to the business of the class; they are too slightly connected with physical facts; they lead to discussions too vagué to form a proper object of attention for such a body as ours.

We think ourselves, however, obliged to finish our investigation by remarking, that, if we were even to adopt the greater number of the ideas of Drs. Gall and Spurzheim, we would still be far from knowing the relations, the uses, and the connections of all the parts of the brain.

1

So long as we have not even a well grounded conjecture with regard to the functions of the pituitary gland, of the infundibulum, of the mammillary eminences, of the cords passing from these eminences into the substance of the thalami, of the pineal gland, and of its pedunculi, we must apprehend, that any system whatever, with regard to the functions of the brain, is very incomplete, since it will not embrace these parts so numerous, so considerable, and so intimately connected with the whole of this important organ.

This is almost finishing with as much doubt, and as much uncertainty, as we began; but one can only require, on every subject, the degree of probability of which it admits; and the natural philosopher always performs his task very well, when he neither exaggerates, nor diminishes this probability, and when he fixes its degree with precision.

It is of importance to repeat once more, if it were only for the information of the public, that the anatomical questions with which we have been engaged in this report, have no immédiate and necessary connection with the physiological doctrine taught by Dr. Gall, with regard to the functions and the influence of the relative size of the different parts of the brain, and that all that we have examined with respect to the structure of the encephalon might be equally true or false, without any

conclusion being drawn for or against this doctrine, which can

only be determined by quite different means.

Given at the Institute, the 15th April, 1808.

(Signed) Tenon, Portal, Sabatier, Pinel, Cuvier. The class approves of this report, and adopts its conclusions. Conform to the Extract,

(Signed) CUVIER, Perpetual Secretary.

From the Edinburgh Medical and Surgical Journal. Cases of Diabetes, Consumption, &c. with Observations on the History and Treatment of Disease in general. By ROBERT WATT, Member of the Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons, Glasgow. 8vo. pp. 328. Paisley, 1808.

PHYSICIANS seem now to be gradually recovering from

those delusions with which a false theory, more than mistaken or unguarded observation had beset them. Indeed, we have witnessed so many signs of the decline of the stimulating method of cure in the greater number of acute diseases, and in some chronic, that we have long since ventured to proclaim its downfal and disgrace. And we have seen enough to persuade us, that this approaching revolution will tend to the improvement of practical medicine.

The practice founded on the Brunonian doctrines of debility, excitement, and stimulus, has slain, we believe, in sincerity of heart, its thousands and ten thousands. This doctrine not only set all former observation and experience at defiance, but so strong a hold had it taken on the imagination of its votaries, that medicine appeared to them unsusceptible of farther improvement. We remember the horror and incredulity that was excited some years ago, by the evacuating system of Dr. Rush, and of some West-India practitioners, in the yellow fever; and how a celebrated German professor, of the stimulating school,