Observations on the functions of the nervous system / [Alexander Philips Wilson Philip].

  • Philip, Alexander Philip Wilson, 1770-1847
Date:
1829
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on the functions of the nervous system / [Alexander Philips Wilson Philip]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    fluenced by it, constantly in some, occasionally in others. It therefore bears the same relation to the sensorial organs which the muscles bear to it. As the muscular is independent of the nervous power, so is the nervous of the sensorial power. As the nervous, influence all the muscular, functions, those of the muscles of voluntary motion constantly, those of the muscles of involuntary motion occasionally; so the sensorial, influence all the nervous, functions, those of the cerebral and spinal nerves constantly, those of the ganglionic nerves occasionally. Thus all the functions of the nervous and muscular systems, by which we are connected with the world that surrounds us, are constantly subjected to the sensorial power; while the functions on which our life depends, with the exception of respiration, are only occasionally so, and under circumstances in which the will has no controul. With this exception the latter are all functions of the nervous and muscular powers alone. To respiration the sensorial power also is necessary, and therefore the nervous and muscular powers never long survive the loss of the sensorial power. The nervous power which connects all the other powers of the animal body, effects so many changes in it, and has so large a share in connecting it with the world around it, cannot strictly speaking be regarded as one of the vital powers of that body, but as an agent employed by those powers; because it has been proved by direct experiment that it is capable of existing independently of the mechanism of the part in which it resides, and therefore is not peculiar to that mechanism; and by the same means, that all its functions may be performed by galvanism, made to operate in the same circumstances in which the nervous power operates. The experiments referred to in the foregoing paper suggested the use of galvanism in those diseases which arise either from a partial or general failure of the nervous power ; and the success which has attended its employment has afforded another proof of its capability of the functions of that power. The diseases in which it has been chiefly employed are habitual asthma, the various forms of indigestion, affections of the spinal marrow and general nervous de¬ bility. An account of its effects in the first of these diseases was laid before the Society, and published in the Philosophical Transactions of 1817- An account of its effects in the others is published in the third edition of my treatise on the Vital Functions.