^|NJ<NEY
THE
             NERVOUS SYSTEM
                    OF

        THE  HUMAN  BODY;

     EMBRACING A DISSERTATION DELIVERED
                   TO THE
MEDICAL PROFESSION of PHILADELPHIA,
                    ANI)
        STUDENTS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES,
                   OS THE

    SUBJECT OF THE NERVES, BRAIN,

                    AMD

             ORGANS OF SENSE.
         PHI L AD E LP HI A"!---
PRINTED BY WM. F. GEDDES, NO. I 12 CHESNUT STREET.
18 39. 
 
THE
NERVOUS SYSTEM
         THE  HUMAN  BODY;

     EMBRACING A DISSERTATION DELIVERED

                    TO THE

MEDICAL PROFESSION of PHILADELPHIA,

                      AND

         STUDENTS OF THE TWO UNIVERSITIES,

                    OS THE

    SUBJECT OF THE NERVES, BRAIN,
ORGANS OF SENSE.
     Bx NINIAN PINKNEY, U. S. Na


          PHILADELPHIA
PRINTED BY WM. F. GEDDES, NO. 112 CHESNUT STREET
              1839.
 
 
                A  DISSERTATION
                          ON THE

NERVES, BRAIN, AND ORGANS OF  SENSE.
Gentlemen :

    I shall now, after the preliminary remarks already made, pro*
ceed to the subject of discussion. Until Sir Charles Bell presented
his exposition of the Nervous system to the Royal Society of Lon-
don, which comprised six papers, nothing of importance was
known as regarded its physiology.   This  important  discovery
was made in 1821, and concluded by a series of experiments in
1829.  It is true that Dr. Alexander Monroe made the discovery
that the ganglions of the spinal nerves were formed on the poste-
rior roots, and that the  anterior  roots  passed  the ganglions.
These  were  supposed by Johnstone to have been formed by na-
ture, Jor the  purpose of cutting off  sensation.   The celebrated
Scarpa and Soemeiring added but little to the discovery.   Great
efforts  were  evidently made by the  English and French to de-
prive Mr. Bell of the credit, for having established the fact, that
motion belonged to the cerebrum, sensation to  the  cerebellum,
and respiratory action to the medulla oblongata.
  As I am addressing myself to men of Science, it would be un-
necessary to trouble them with  an explanation of the nervous
system; but I cannot elucidate my points without doing so; I must
therefore be excused. It consists of the brain, nerves, and organs
of sense.   The brain is that soft mass contained  in the cranium.
It  is surrounded by  three membranes;  an internal called pia
mater,  a  middle tunica arachnoidea,  and an  external  dura
mater.   The  first is vascular, second serous, and third fibrous in
structure.  The brain is formed by two kinds of substance, a cine-
ritious and medullary.   It is a double organ, and  consists in right 
4
 and left halves perfectly alike.  At present it is divided into cere-
 brum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata: and I am disposed  to
 add two more, the pineal gland and pituitary gland.  The nerves
 are white cords to be seen every where in the parts of the animal
 economy, having motion, sensation, and respiratory action. They
 are well supplied with blood-vessels, which is an important con-
 sideration : their arteries and veins are numerous, and their de-
 pendence on the supply  of blood  immediate.  When a limb  is
 deprived of blood, the nerves  are deprived of their powers, and
 consequently,  sensibility is lost: compress it  partially, so as  to
 interrupt the free passage of blood into it, both the  power over
 muscles and the reception of sensation through it, are interrupted.
 Admit the blood again, and the change is attended with a painful
 tingling.  The nerves are formed  by parallel fasiculi of fibres,
 perceptible to  inspection, which can be reduced into fibrillce, and
 then again into  filaments as fine  as the thread  of a silk-worm.
 The finest filament is enclosed in its proper sheath, and in pene-
 trating the ganglions, are deprived of their neurileme which is
continued into a kind of capsule that surrounds the ganglions.
  To the three functions described by Mr. Bell, I add two others,
 and call them  functions of deglutition  and sympathy.
  The senses can be illustrated by an appeal to the eye.   There
 you have the optic  nerve expanded in a structure competent  to
 convey outward impressions.  Thus you have the nervous system
 formed for  receiving impressions, with power to put in play the
 muscular fabric, and endowed with feeling and thought.
  Anatomists of the present day  describe the  spinal  marrow  as
the source of the brain. This plan accords more with my views;
they commence with the spinal nerves, and finally terminate with
 the olfactory.  Until the greatest physiologist of the age, of whom
 I have just made mention, ascertained the different functions of the
 three divisions of the brain, all the difficulty of nervous influence
 was explained on the idea of galvanic fluid being contained  in
 tubes.  Others ascribed  it to vibration,  and  supposed that the
 same root could excite motion, and produce also  sensation.  This
 last, no doubt, led to the system now adopted, and gave the first
-impulse to its discovery. 
5
            Besides the nerves of smell, vision, and  hearing, four  systems
          combined into a whole, are to be found  motion, sensation, respi-
          ratory action, and sympathy, all  different in function  from each
          other; the last differing in the qualities that distinguish the others.
          This last has been placed in the animal economy for the  purpose
          of performing the functions of nutrition and decay—of course its
»          action differs widely from all the others.  We are aware that each
          nerve consists of distinct filaments, but there is nothing  in them dis-
          tinguishable from each other;  one thread may be for motion, ano-
          ther for sensation, and a third for respiratory action.  By tracing
          these to their termination in the brain, or origin as it is  called, Mr.
          Bell was enabled to establish, beyond doubt, that  splendid system
          of his, viz. that the spinal marrow was divided  into  two lateral
          portions, each consisting of different columns of nervous matter.
          Either lateral was again divided into three tracts : one  for motion,
          one for sensation, and one for respiratory action, thus  forming the
          whole  of six columns, bound in intimate connexion, yet each pair
         , possessing separate identity.   These were  called anterior, poste-
          rior, and middle ; the two first can be traced into the brain, whilst
          the third stops short in  the medulla oblongata.  This tract of ner-
          vous substance possesses functions independent of reason,  and per-
          forms  its office without the aid of the cerebrum and cerebellum.
          Each spinal nerve is acknowledged to be composed of filaments
          coming from the anterior  and posterior columns of the  spinal
          ■cord.  A ganglion is formed upon the  posterior root,  previous to
          its union with the anterior  funiculus.  In  the  head there is one
          compound nerve, the fifth pair or trigeminus, and  a respiratory or
          portio  dura, commonly called  seventh pair.  The  reason why the
          latter has been named respiratory nerve of the face,  arises from
          the fact that the trigeminus  taking  its  origin above the  medulla
          oblongata, and the  respiratory from it, of  course, unless a nerve
          was sent to the  face  to  associate its action with the  muscles of
          respiration, great want of expression would be the result.  I consi-
          der the sympathetic or ganglionic nerve as entitled to an insulated
          description, and should be located.  In speaking of this nerve, Sir
          Charles Bell  says, that as to the origin, we cannot assign it a
          commencement. 
                              6
   It is true, that this  nerve is most intimately blended with  the
par vagum, yet this may be accounted for by the following rea-
sons.  The cerebrum, being the seat of motion, is  the least  im-
portant to life;  cerebellum, seat of sensation, the next most impor-
tant, and the medulla oblongata, seat of respiratory  action,  the
most important of  these  three  admitted systems   Of  course*
nature was wise in establishing an intimate association between
the par vagum and  ganglionic nerve.  I am confident that both
the cerebrum and cerebellum may be suspended in their functions
without life being destroyed.   When it does occur, it arises in
consequence of involving  the pineal gland, then the medulla  ob*
longata, and last of all the  pituitary gland;  death  cannot take
place until  all these  organs become affected.   I am aware  that by
the expression of this opinion, I am opposing some  distinguished
anatomists, yet I cannot refrain passing my humble  opinion.  To
their indulgent feelings I appeal for kindness, and it cannot be
denied me.   I am about  to differ with Granville Sharpe Pattison,
a very great anatomist, and in doing so I am confident my views
will meet with proper appreciation.  This eloquent demonstrator
in his lectures six years ago, when I had the honour of  being a
student, gave the  following as the pathology  of apoplexy.   He
stated that  if the blood be effused into the cerebrum, the result will
not be  instantaneous death; but.if into the cerebellum, an imme-
diate and total extinction of the vital principle will be the conse-
quence.  He therefore is of opinion, that the  cerebrum  belongs
to moral or intellectual life, and the cerebellum to  physical life.
If I mistake not, he affirmed, that in every dissection of apoplectic
subjects, this opinion  had been  confirmed.  When the  effusion
takes place in  the  cerebrum, the cerebellum is consecutively in-
volved, and thus death is produced.  If the blood  be thrown at
once into the cerebellum, you will  have a total extinction both
of physical and intellectual life.  Valsalva predicted that a porter
had died of an effusion of blood into the cerebellum, and his friend
Morgagni,  after Valsalva's death, expressed a wish to ascertain
how his friend Valsalva could suppose that the porter  had died of
an effusion of blood into the cerebellum rather than the cerebrum.
The above is the explanation given by our Professor of Anatomy, 
7
 from which I differ, not  by saying I do not  believe it, but by
 giving reasons.  I consider, (for none can prove it) that the cere-
 brum and cerebellum are purely organs of animal life.  We know
 that the foetus in utero sleeps constantly, until it comes into exist-
 ence with creative objects, then its animal existence commences,
 We are further aware that both sensation and motion cease, and
 yet respiration continues in play.  After a short interval, death
 ensues; but not until all these separate systems become affected,
 and no longer perform their  functions.   This  state of things  is
 best seen in diseases, where life is destroyed by degrees.  In the
 case of instantaneous death from apoplexy, I assert that it can-
 not be in consequence of effused blood into the cerebellum alone,
 but that the penial gland, medulla oblongata, and pituitary gland
 become oppressed, and consequently cannot execute their offices;
 the result is instantaneous dissolution.   These three last organs I
 regard  as formed for organic  life.
   How frequently we hear of persons apparently in perfect health,
 while walking in the street, falling suddenly down, perfectly un*
 conscious, with laboured respiration,  and dying in a few hours,
 without any restoration to consciousness. In this case, the motor
 and sensitive organs are both oppressed with blood, the patient is
 deprived  at once of his relation with  surrounding objects; in
 plain language, animal life is destroyed.   A few moments more,
 and the oppression going on, deglutition becomes interrupted, then
 respiration,  and last of all, sympathy  or pituitary gland, this termi-
 nates organic  life.  Life, therefore,  being composed of animal
and organic, when these are destroyed it ceases.
  We will now proceed to examine  the  great sympathetic nerve,
as formed according to modern  anatomists.   It is described as
made up of  branches coming from  the sixth pair and fifth pair.
The way this  is  explained is  as follows: the vidian nerve,  a
branch  of the superior maxillary, a second branch of the trigemi-
nus  or  great sensitive nerve  of the head, having entered the
pterygoid foramen runs backwards: it splits, one of its branches
passes in the carotid canal and forms with the sixth pair, the
great ganglionic nerve; some add the nasal branch of the fifth
pair, for the purpose of establishing a direct nervous communiea- 
8
tion between the sympathetic nerve, sixth pair or motor externus,
and trigeminus through the lenticular ganglion which is formed
by the nasal bra/ich of the trigeminus and a division of the motor
oculi  or third pair.
   I must acknowledge that I cannot, for the life of me, understand
by what  kind of principle (Sir Charles Bell) could  thus form this
nerve, after positively asserting that the three systems discovered
by himself were independent of each other, and could not, though
bound together, interchange their specific characters.  We can-
not presume to deny that the sixth pair is a motor nerve, and the
vidian and  nasal branches of the trigeminus are purely sensitive
nerves.  It is avowed by this  physiologist that the sympathetic
nerve, possesses neither motion, sensation, nor respiratory action.
But these are the attributes of those nerves of which it is said to be
composed.   The idea I have formed of the sympathetic system,
which, properly speaking, should be called ganglionic, has its ter-
mination in the pituitary gland.  It is constituted of a series of
ganglions, extending from the last sacral, to the one just named,
and this is its chief organ or brain. The ganglions are compound;
that is the opinion expressed in anatomical works: meaning that
the filaments of  two or more nerves go to form it.  The idea of
these  bodies being formed by the  union of nerves, is perfectly ab-
surd.   I  should rather believe that they were primarily formed
for the purpose of establishing a connexion with all the other sys-
tems of nerves.  It is through the operation  of this nerve that
nutrition  is carried on.  The ultimate ganglion formed by the two
sympathetic nerves, is called the coccygeal ganglion; this lies on
the front of the os coccygis.   There are three sacral ganglions,
which can  be readily found, and it is said that one or two more
have been discovered; they are all placed on the anterior face of
the sacrum, near the foramina for the transmission of the sacral
nerves.  They are united to each other by filaments which con-
stitute the  continuation of the sympathetic nerve;  nervous fila-
ments pass from each ganglion, to be united to the corresponding
sacral nerve; the nerve now passes  up through the five lumbar
ganglions,  from each of which filaments are likewise sent off to
the lumbar spinal nerves. The  cord of the sympathetic passes 
9
successively through  the  twelve thoracic ganglions, detaching
filaments to the intercostal nerves  of the  corresponding part.
Internal branches are  sent to the adjacent parts lying on the ver-
tebral column;  some of these concur to form the great and small
splanchnic nerves.
  The great splanchnic nerve having  passed into the abdomen,
becomes associated with the semilunar ganglion, which is situ-
ated on the crus of the diaphragm.  This is  supposed to be form-
ed of a congeries of  small ganglions arranged in the form of a
moon, from which it derives its name.  They are  united by a
reticulated work of nerves, and  from them  proceeds a net-work
of nervous fibres, called the  solar plexus; this is placed behind
the stomach, and surrounds with its branches, the cceliac, superior
mesenteric and renal arteries.  The semilunar ganglion of both
sides meet and  form it.  The ramifications  of this plexus  have
added  to them some from the phrenic and par vagum; a portion
of this plexus, sends ramifications to the stomach, liver, pancreas
and spleen, taking the three  arteries as their guide.   I conceive
it unnecessary  to discuss this  part  of the  sympathetic system;
but  previous to leaving it I would  beg leave to suggest one  re-
mark—to what is the frequency of sudden death to be attributed,
when a severe  blow is inflicted upon the  stomach?  I  believe it
arises from apoplexy  or engorgement as you choose to call it, of
the semilunar ganglion.  We know  that these ganglions are re-
solved into two  kinds  of substance; one filamentous, the other
gelatinous and  of a reddish colour.   This substance is thought to
be fat, and this  is the  view Scarpa takes of  it, and of course his
opinion is  entitled to  the highest consideration.   If it is fat I  am
compelled to believe that  this would be substantiated, by the for-
mation of tumours in  their substance. Its composition, too, differs
from fat, as seen in the adipose tissue; besides, they are never
absent, but are  always demonstrable in the recent subject, and in
their assigned  places.  Upon minute  investigation  they exhibit
great vascularity, a strong argument in favour of their being  en-
dowed with certain  important functions.   When the  semilunar
ganglions, as stated above, become engorged with  blood, they
instantaneously cease  their action in the system, and the result is 
10
death.  As these  organs, for such I conceive them to be, are de-
prived of their peculiar function ; motion, sensation, deglutition
and respiratorv action cease. No man in this audience can deny
that when the functions just named stop, that dissolution will be
the instantaneous result. They cannot further deny that the sym-
pathetic  nerve, according to present views,  is  acknowledged to
preside over all the intricate movements going on in our bodies.
These facts being admitted, the pathology just offered  is entitled
to some consideration.
  It has  been proved that no sensibility exists in the sympathetic
nerve, nor in the ganglions formed in its progress.  They may be
cut, pinched in the living body without producing pain or motion.
This establishes the fact beyond the power of contradiction, that
these  ganglions appropriated to the sympathetic nerve, differ en-
tirely from  those situated upon the posterior fasiculi of  the spinal
nerves.   Those when  pinched  produce pain, but  do  not cause
motion.  Touch the anterior root and motion is the result.  Having
given a  limited  description, we follow the nerve through the
three  cervical  ganglions; from  each of these, filaments pass off
to the cervical spinal nerves, and some ascend from the superior
cervical ganglion to anastomose with the  pneumogastric nerve,
hypo-glossal, and facial nerves,  near their exit from the cranium.
Before proceeding further, it would be as well to say something
in reference to the cardiac plexus, as regards its formation.  It is
constructed of three  nerves, coming from the sympathetic on the
right, and two on the  left;  they are called cardiac, and are joined
by filaments sent from the recurrent nerves and par vagum, after
they unite to form the cardiac plexus.  This penetrates from the
base of the heart to the root of the aorta, is diffused through the
muscular structure of the former, its trunks follow the course of the
pulmonary arteries. This correct and minute anatomy,  is derived
from  William  E. Horner, M. D.  I at first started with Dr. God-
man's edition of John and Charles  Bell's anatomy, as  my guide;
but I could not rely sufficiently upon the description of  parts held
forth there.  This great anatomist pursues the  course  of John
Bell, and states that the femoral artery, about four inches, more or
less, below the groin, sends off the arteria profunda femoris. This, 
11
 he says, depends upon the size of the subject.   In every instance,
 where  Doctor Pattison  demonstrated the anatomy of the upper
 region of the thigh, he proved that the artery was given off from
 one and a half to two inches, and never more lhan two and a half.
 This fact  was  strongly fixed upon  my mind, by the clear and
 beautiful demonstration,  so characteristic of that man.  Reason-
 ing from this error of Doctor Godman, and so important a one, I
 concluded not to be governed by his work.  I therefore adopted
 as my  author in  most points, your much esteemed Professor.
 Gentlemen, he is every way entitled  to your kindest feelings, and
 you will do well to pursue that  which is characteristic of him—
 viz.  benevolence, not  mingled with jealousy or envy.
   Another ganglion has been of late discovered, by Laumonier,
 to which this great nerve is connected.   He has given the name
 of "ganglion cavernosum" to it. This discovery of his brings us
 nearer  still to the pituitary gland; and I believe the day will soon
 arrive  when  this  will be the  true  key  to  the nervous system.
 Filaments of late have been traced from  the ganglion of Laumo-
 nier to ^he gasserian, formed upon the posterior root of the trige-
 minus.  It is stated that they have even been traced to the pitui-
 tary gland, and  infundibulum, which  is a  flattened conoidal body,
 an inch long, with its base upward and its apex downwards and
 forwards.  It is formed of cineritious matter:  its base is hollow,
 and  opens into the third  ventricle, but its point is closed.  J. F.
 Meckel asserts  that a communication  exists entirely through it,
 from the pituitary gland to the third  ventricle: he has succeeded
 in proving this by passing air and liquid from this gland into the
 ventricle; he failed when he  attempted the experiment from the
 third ventricle.   We  will presently demonstrate that the  third
 ventricle communicates with the two lateral ventricles.
  Thus far a direct communication can be traced from the pitui-
 tary gland, through the  infundibulum, with the third ventricle
 and also the two lateral.  It can be proved that the infundibulum,
 which establishes a connexion between the  pituitary gland  and
 cerebrum, is formed, like a nerve, of  cineritious matter.
  We are  aware  that the cerebrum and cerebellum, have two
substances entering into their composition, called medullary and 
12
cineritious: the latter substance forms  the  surface of  the cere-
brum and cerebellum, whilst  the interior is principally  of medul-
lary.   This  state of things is reversed in the pons varolii crura
and spinal marrow.  Here you have the outer surface medullary,
and the interior cineritious.   The same holds good with nerves in
general.
   The third ventricle  of the cerebrum, as  stated, communicates
freely with the lateral ventricles through the aperture  called the
foramen of Monroe. Under the tubercula quadrigemina, another
communication is established between the third ventricle and  ven-
triculum  quartum: through  this a  passage is formed into the
cerebellum.   Thus  far we  have been enabled to prove, if any
reliance  can  be placed in the dissections of  a Horner  and a
Meckel, with  a host of other lights of anatomical illustrations—
   That the pituitary gland has communication with the cerebrum
and  cerebellum, just as much so, as it is proved by Sir Charles
Bell, that motor nerves go to the cerebrum, sensitive to the cere-
bellum, and respiratory to the medulla oblongata.  The two first
he was enabled to prove by experiments—when the  cerebrum
was  touched, motion took place; when the cerebellum, sensation
ensued.  The nerves I am trying to  trace to their proper organs,
and ascertain their functions, are more difficult to prove  by ex-
periment.  Notwithstanding,  I  feel  certain  that  many points
which I have had the temerity  to put forth, will yet be established
 as truths, provided proper assistance is bestowed upon this  novel
 exposition of the nervous system.
   According to H. Cloquet, a funiculus passed from  the " gan-
 glion cavernosum"  and formed  a plexus around the ophthalmic
 artery, and may be traced along all  its branches, even the central
 artery of the retina. This plexus anastomoses with the lenticular
 ganglion, and establishes no doubt a direct nervous communica-
 tion between the sympathetic,  the motor oculi and first branch of
 the trigeminus.  I regard this ganglion as a compound one, and
 belonging purely to the ganglionic system.
   The spheno-palatine ganglion, no doubt, will be proved, as be-
 longing to  the sympathetic ganglions.  We can already trace a
 connexion  between it and  the vidian, a branch of  the  second 
13
branch of the trigeminus.  The respiratory nerve of the face or
portio dura, to all events  anastomoses with filaments coming from
it. The two ganglions, named lenticular and spheno-palatine, are
sympathetic organs to the face, as the superior cervical is to the
neck.  We have now traced thoroughly the ramifications  of the
great ganglionic nerve—
   1st. From the coccygeal ganglion, through the sacral ganglions.
2d. Through the  lumbar.  3d. Through  the twelve  dorsal or
thoracic.   4th. Through  the three  cervical, and lastly, through
the  ganglion  cavernosum of Laumonier, and, according to a
German anatomist, into  the  pituitary gland.  This agrees with
my opinions precisely, as first laid down in this dissertation, that
this great nerve took its origin  from the coccygeal ganglion, and
terminated into the pituitary gland.  From the solar plexus it can
be traced through the semilunar ganglion, into the two splanch-
nic nerves, and finally into the thoracic  ganglions.
   The nerve can be traced from  the cardiac plexus into five car-
diac nerves; three on the right and two on the left.  They pass
through the cervical ganglions, and of  course, terminate as they
do.  Having collected all the filaments of this  nerve into a whole,
we shall soon be able to  demonstrate it as going to the pituitary
gland.  Here motion, sensation, deglutition  and respiratory  ac-
tion, with  sympathy, are so completely changed by the action of
these ganglions, when  reaching their proper brain  constitute
nutritive function.  All these separate functions are essential to
perfect health.  I have often noticed when persons  die of slow
diseases, the following phenomena take  place :—
   First,—The senses, sight, hearing, smell, taste, and  touch  are
lost, and in a little while  animal life ceases;  that is, the cerebrum
and cerebellum no longer  execute  the  functions of motion and
sensation.
   Second,—Inability to swallow: as I consider the pineal gland
as the organ of deglutition, it dies.   I shall explain, before finish-
ing, why I take this view of the subject.
   Third,—Respiration ceases, and immediately  death  ensues.
Here the medulla oblongata  and pituitary gland terminate their
existence.   This state of things occurs only when  the organs of 
14
tnimal and organic life are destroyed one by one.   Injury to the
medullaoblongata is instant death-pineal gland ranges nex , cere-
bellum, and then cerebrum.  The least injury to the  pituitary
gland would be instantaneous in its effect, because  this modffie
and presides over all the others.  Through the infundibulum that
change which is produced  by this organ, is transmitted  to the
brain, and thus animal and organic life become united.
  It may be asked, why, if this nerve arises or terminates in this
gland,  does it not take its course in the spinal cord, like the three
systems of Sir Charles Bell?  My reply would be, that nature,
aware  of the frequent injuries to which the  spine is liable, placed
it where she has done, well protected, and admirably located for
the function which it is called to perform.    Besides, suppose she
had  placed it there, it must have  extended throughout the verte-
bral canal, and there would be no security to life.  The least in-
jury must have ended existence.
  Another reason  may be adduced from the fact, that  oven  the
tract of spinal  marrow, from which  the respiratory nerves arise,
occupies but a limited extent in this  canal.   If, therefore, an or-
gan  like this, next  in importance to the one in consideration, is so
well protected, it would  appear  strange for nature to expose  the
most important to  frequent injuries.
  Let  us for a moment examine the pituitary gland, and see what
are its characters.  It is  a reddish body, of a gland-like  appear-
ance,  located in the sella turcica of  the sphenoid  bone, covered
almost completely by the dura mater, except where it has con-
nexion with the infundibulum : its shape is ovoidal, bearing in its
conformation  strict resemblance to the  medulla oblongata: it is
divided, so as to appear formed of two lobes : it is hard, and con-
sists of cineritous  and medullary matter   within:  its greatest
diameter amounts  to six lines.   Let us see to what purposes pre-
ceding generations of  enlightened anatomists and  physiologists,
have dedicated this highly important organ.  Some, wise above
others, imagined it received the superfluous moisture of the brain
and then conducted it to  the nose, or surrounding sinuses. What
proof  was produced to sustain this important point? None—the
 slightest attempt was omitted for the purpose of ascertaining by 
15
what communication this was  accomplished.   They sat down
idle speculators, advancing opinions, and ascribing functions to
organs, without furnishing the world  with the ground of  their
theory.  M. Littre considered this body as formed of vascular
structure, with muscular fibres.  In the wildness of his imagina-
tion, he conceived that through its  operation  the air and water
were brought down from the ventricles.  Since that period more
than a century  has passed away, without  further investigation
either theoretical or practical, throwing more light upon this sub-
ject.  Let us now see if any good reasons  can be  advanced for
the further establishment of the opinion here held forth.  A dis-
tinction of substance  has been observed in this gland, and it has
been considered by some as a part of the brain.  Some supposed
that it gave nerves to the fifth or sixth pair.
   The  cerebrum, cerebellum,  pineal gland, medulla oblongata,
and pituitary gland, are all formed in the foetal state, not as ex-
panded nerves, but  as  organs  to  receive  impressions, exact  their
execution and perform the function of sympathy or  nutrition.
   It is stated by Doctor  Godman, that  he  found in  acephalous
human foetuses,  the nerves of the  trunk  and extremities perfect,
although no brain existed.  Soon after, he dissected a foetus in
which both brain and spinal marrow were deficient without any
imperfection of  the nerves.  This establishes the fact, that if the
nerves  are  formed whether  brain or spinal marrow exist, that
the two latter  are formed  purely to receive the nerves and act
as peculiar  organs to them.  The circle of Willis surrounds the
gland;  it is  formed anteriorly by the arteria anterior cerebri, late-
rally by the anterior communicantes, and  posteriorly by the bifur-
cation of the bassillary artery.   Had nature attempted to  have
placed it in a more secure place, she must have failed.
   The ganglions are of two kinds : those formed upon the poste-
rior root of the spinal nerves are called simple, because it is sup-
posed  that  they are  produced  by a single nerve.   Those called
composite, are  considered as formed by  two or  more  nerves.
These last belong to the ganglionic system.  Nothing could  ever
induce me to believe that these bodies are formed of nerves; they
must be organs of a-peculiar structure. 
16
  Before concluding the subject of the great sympathetic nerve,
I will attempt an explanation of my views by a simile: when a
balloon was first invented, Gusman  succeeded by inflating it with
air  lighter than atmosphere, sending it two hundred feet above
the  earth; in consideration of this wonderful project, he was  only
regarded as  a sorcerer.  In 1766, M. Cavendish  discovered a gas
which he called hydrogen; and  balloons inflated with it soared
aloft in the ethereal regions, thousands of feet above the surface
of the earth. Soon  after this important discovery, a lady in Paris
went up in  one and unfortunately took a light; as  the  balloon
rose with the rapidity of  lightening, the weight of the atmosphere
in contact with the gas expanded, and forcing its way out, came
in contact with the flame, and explosion was the  instantaneous
result.  Water  was the product in the one instance, and death in
the  other.  Since that period the aerionaut observes this precau-
tion, and the danger is much lessened.  Thus you  perceive  that
many years  have elapsed, and yet that science is far  from being
perfect.  As  nature has gifted man with this power, I believe that
the day is not  far  distant, when he will be enabled  by his own
ingenuity, to traverse the  atmosphere with the same dexterity as
the experienced navigator does the trackless ocean.   I compare
the balloon  to  the brain, and  the  pituitary gland  to  the  car in
which the man  is seated.   We will suppose that  this gland is con-
nected by four strings or nerves to the brain, one for  motion, one
for sensation, one for deglutition, and  one for respiratory action,
all joined to the sympathetic.   Suppose the first  are  divided, the
car will incline  downwards;  cut the second  and the inclination
will be increased:  when  the third  and fourth  are cut, the  car,
being entirely separated, death would en*ue.  I believe that  all
the nerves, terminating in the cerebrum, cerebellum, pineal gland,
and medulla oblongata, are united to the sympathetic, and when
it passes into the pituitary gland, a change is produced upon  the
whole, and this nervous influence is transmitted to the  cerebrum
 and cerebellum, through the infundibulum,  and animal and  or-
 ganic life becomes connected.
  By way of novelty, to  make the  point more clear, let  us  sup-
 pose that a  lady is engaged in making bread,—she requires  salt, 
17
 flour, water, and  yeast; making in all four ingredients, which I
 shall compare to motion, sensation, deglutition and respiratory
 action.  In the one instance, dough is produced ; and in the other,
 sympathy.   When the first is baked, bread is made; and when the
 last is acted upon by the pituitary gland, life takes place.
   Nerves of the Encephalon, or Brain:
   First—the spinal Accessory. I place this first, because it takes
 its origin behind the ninth pair, from the posterior fasiculus of the
 spinal cord, as low down as the seventh cervical nerve, and  also
 from the medulla  oblongata.   This description would of course
 make it a nerve of sensation  and respiratory action.   This, there-
 fore, cannot be correct, unless Sir Charles Bell is wrong. I should
 trace it from its peripheral  termination, and having arrived at the
 medulla oblongata, finish it.   It is  distributed  to the muscles of
 the neck and the integuments.
   Second—The Hypo-glossal nerve. It arises from the respiratory
 column of medullary matter,  called the medulla oblongata.  It is
 distributed to the  tongue, to give it  respiratory association.
   Third—Par vagum.  This likewise is a respiratory nerve.  Its
 destination is to the organs of respiration and to the stomach.
   Fourth—Glossopharyngeal.  This, according to  Sir Charles
 Bell,  is a respiratory nerve.   It goes to the tongue and pharynx.
 I think that this nerve is connected with the pineal  gland, and is
 therefore placed  for  the purpose of degtutition.  I shall explain
 fully  when upon the nerves  of the tongue.
   Fifth—Auditory, or portio  mollis.   Valsalva made an excel-
 lent distinction, when  he said that the membrane of the tympanum
 was not absolutely essential to hearing, but only to perfect hear-
 ing.   I am induced to believe that the tympanum and  labyrinth
 are two organs, requiring the action of both for perfect hearing.
 That a nerve of motion, sensation, and respiratory action,  are
 sent to either.  I regard this  nerve as purely a sensitive one, to
be appropriated to  the labyrinth. I will give my reason: Formerly
the portio dura and mollis were described as one nerve, and I can
see no reason why it should not be,  as the trigeminus.   It arises
by two fasiculi or  roots; the one called portio  dura, arises from
the medulla oblongata; whilst the other, called portio mollis, takes 
18
its orign from the cerebellum, just behind its crus, as described by
J. F. Meckel.  He ascribes this as being an analogy to the other
nerves of the senses, the optic and olfactory.  I am disposed to
agree with that eminent anatomist, and  ascribe to it the sole act
of sensation, by which hearing, produced in the labyrinth, is trans-
mitted to the cerebellum.  These are  now  considered  distinct
nerves, and pass through the  meatus auditorius  internus, the bot-
tom of which is divided into two fosso3, of which the upper is the
smaller.  A foramen in the upper fossa, transmits the facial nerve
or portio dura, as it is called, while all the others are occupied by
the filaments of the portio mollis;  this is the genuine nerve of
hearing, and  is distributed to  the cochlea, vestibulum,  and semi-
circular canals.  On the portion destined for the ampulla?  of the
superior  and external  canal, there  is formed a ganglion. The
other portion of this nerve not connected with the ganglion, I con-
ceive to be the motor nerve of the ear.   The  sense of hearing is
conveyed to the brain by the portio mollis from the labyrinth, and
by the vidian, a  branch of the  trigeminus, a sensitive nerve  of
the face; not the great sensitive, as it is called: this is perfectly
ridiculous, and would lead one to believe that there were two of
the same kind on either side of the head.  The  chorda tympani,
is formed  by a branch of the vidian, and becomes  connected
with the portio dura.
  Sixth—Portio dura.   It arises from the medulla oblongata, and
is consequently a respiratory nerve.  It passes through the stylo-
mastoid foramen, to be  distributed to the side of the face, head,
and upper part of the neck.
  Seventh—Motor oculi Externus.  It takes its origin  from the
base of the corpus pyramidale, under the posterior margin, of the
tuber annulare.  Sir Charles Bell thinks that the object nature had
in sending this nerve to  the adductor  muscle  of the eye, was to
draw the eye-ball  towards the inne? canthus, and to produce a
similar effect on the caruncle and membrane semilunaris.  We
know that it is solitary in its origin and course,  and that is all the
information we have at present upon this point.   His  views are
certainly incorrect; for the action of this muscle would draw the
eye-ball to the  outer  canthus.   This nerve is,  beyond doubjt, an 
19
involuntary one, and placed for the purpose  of associating the
actions of the four recti muscles with the function of respiration.
It has been clearly proved that the trochlearis or nervus patheti-
cus, is a respiratory nerve, and is distributed entirely to the supe-
rior oblique muscle of the eye.  This was  clearly demonstrated
by an experiment  upon a monkey.  This  muscle having been
divided, the hand was passed before it;  the  eye turned upwards
and inwards, while the  other had  scarcely a motion in the same
direction.  When the eye was turned up, he could with difficulty
bring it down again. To what was this owing is no doubt pass-
ing in the  minds of many of my  respected auditors ?   I will at-
tempt an explanation;  but  before I could be clearly understood,
it will be necessary to make a few remarks about  the two sets of
muscles appropriated to the organ of sight.
   First set.—Four recti muscles;  they  come from the bottom of
the orbit,  and run  forwards and outwards;  they embrace  the
eye-ball, and are inserted at  four cardinal points tinto it.   They
are for  directing  the axis of the  eye,  turning it round to every
point in the sphere of vision.  Three of these  are  voluntary, and
one is an involuntary, and it is to this that the adductor nerve is
distributed, according to my idea.  I consider, that  as nature con-
ceived it necessary to  send a respiratory nerve to the superior
oblique, and a motor nerve to the inferior oblique; why should she
not make the same provision with  the recti, to associate their ac-
tion with the respiratory function ?  We know that the third pair
of nerves,  is distributed  to  the  superior  rectus, internal  rectus,
and the inferior rectus  and inferior oblique.   This nerve, taking
its origin from  the organ of motion, called  cerebrum, must of
course be a pure motor  nerve, and consequently, all these muscles
to which it is distributed, are placed under the control of the will.
Pursuing still further this reasoning, we  find that one nerve is sent
to the superior oblique muscle, and that  another to the  rectus  ex-
ternus muscle.   If nature had not intended a different  action  for
this last described muscle, why did she not detach a filament from
the third pair to it.
   The picture presented to you, gentlemen, is but a  mere shadow;
but I feel sanguine that it will soon be animated with life.  If 
                            20

minute dissection  can accomplish it, my every effort shall be
made, to  put the snow-ball in motion  before the rays of  malice
shall melt it into nothing.  Some men evince a disposition to op-
pose the newly fledged doctrines of others, because they did  not
originate them.  Such men  may be great, but yet they act as
stumps to the development of science.   However, having to sub-
sist upon  their own mental nourishment, it ceases to sustain them
and they  die disgusted with themselves, and detested by the world.
Thank heaven, that few, very few, pervade the ranks of science.
The parotid gland, after all the noise  created regarding the  im-
practicability of its extirpation, has at last been acknowledged as
a thing possible.   Yet at this moment, there are  some to  be found,
who obstinately assert, that, notwithstanding  Doctor  Randolph
succeeded in  removing it  entirely it  must have been something
else.  That it can be done, and  has been  done, I merely point
you to the surgeon named and he  will convince you.
  If, gentlemen, the surgeon of Jefferson College, or the  one from
whom you receive instruction, was to intimate its impossibility, I
should not hesitate saying  that  that man  was a drawback to
science.  In making these observations, I have no intention what-
ever, making  any allusion to  your distinguished professor of sur-
gery.  Even  if  I were, my standing is  so low  in  our profession,
that he  would  not deign  to pluck the unblown flower until it
breathed its fragrance to the breeze of heaven.   When its sweets
are wafted to his sense of smell, then, and not until then, would he
be roused from his state of lethargy.
  Excuse me for this digression, and  I will attempt a correct ex-
planation of the experiment  upon the monkey,  but must describe
the remaining muscles of the eye. They consist of the two oblique,
one is called  the superior and  the other  inferior: these roll the
eye in opposite directions ; the first directs the pupil downwards
and outwards, the last upwards and inwards.   To the superior a
respiratory nerve is sent; this being cut,that motion which asso-
ciates it with respiratory action is destroyed:  the consequence is,
that the  inferior, being  under  the will, acted,  and of course the
pupil was directed upwards and inwards, which is the  direction
of  this muscle when called to act. I should like to know by what 
21
power the eye was eventually brought down to its original posi-
tion ?  The reason I would suggest is, that this is produced only
when the inferior oblique becomes relaxed, the will not requiring
its further action.  The combined actions of these muscles draw
the eye-ball towards the nose.   You all have, no doubt, often no-
ticed that peculiar movement of the eye, called winking; this, I
think, can be fully demonstrated upon physiological facts.  We
know that the two oblique muscles are in operation, when natural
winking takes place;  this motion is of the greatest importance
to the preservation of the organ.  When this occurs, without the
power of controlling it in a measure, the nerve which gives volun-
tary motion to the inferior oblique muscle, is evidently paralized.
I will try this experiment as soon as an  opportunity affords,  and
I have no doubt but that the view I have taken, will be sustained.
   Sir Charles Bell states a case which came under his observa-
tion, presenting the following peculiarities:  " By a defect of mo-
tion, the eye  and eye-lids remained fixed ; and the consequence
was, the cornea inflamed and became opaque.  Another curious
circumstance in this case was, that when the eye-lids were closed
the patient still saw red light through  the affected eye;  the rea-
son  of which was, that the eye did not turn up when the eye-lid
was closed."   These are the remarks of that great physiologist;
and I ask if from what he says of the cause, correct views could
be entertained.  Let us endeavour, if we can, to trace the patho-
logical  facts: we have a defect of motion, a fixed state of the
eye and eye-lids, and eventually inflammation and opacity of the
cornea.  This is produced by paralysis of the two oblique mus-
cles, whose functions have been thoroughly discussed.   The cor-
nea being partially exposed to light inflamed, which resulted  in
opacity.  The way in which opacity  is produced, according  to
my  view, is as follows : the  cornea, we  know, is perfectly trans-
parent, and freely transmits the rays of light.   It is  formed  of
many lamina?, placed like the leaves of a book, united by fine cel-
lular substance, and allows them to glide upon each other.  Be-
tween these lamina? an interstitial secretion of a transparent fluid
is constantly going on, to keep the delicate parts moist. That this
is constantly going on, may be proved by keeping the eye open 
                            22

without winking, for some  time, a film of matter will be spread
over the cornea.  When, therefore, it becomes inflamed, in con-
sequence of constant exposure to the  stimulus of light and other
causes, all continuing to keep it up, adhesion takes place  between
all its lamina?, and  thus an opaque membrane is the result.  This
is the only scientific reason  I can offer, and I hope it may accord
with your approbation.  We have now  to  account for the red
lig'ht which passed through the  affected eye.  A ray of light is
composed of  seven colours, and I suppose  when it infringed upon
the  inflamed  cornea,  its transparency being affected,  the  red
passed through, being  more refractive, while all the  others were
reflected.
  Eighth—Nervus trigeminus, or sensitive nerve of the  head.
Doctor Horner, an anatomist justly celebrated for the correctness
and minuteness  of his demonstrations, considers this nerve as
composed of  three roots; an anterior,  posterior and a middle.
The latter  he traces into the medulla oblongata; thus upsetting
Sir  Charles Bell's views upon this subject.  Were this its origin
or termination, it would consist of three different functions ; mo-
tion, sensation,  and respiratory action.  I contend that  there is
no such thing in the human body, as  a compound nerve, formed
of two roots,  one possessing motion, and the other having a gan-
glion  on its roots  possessing sensation.   If this nerve  is  com-
pound, having motion and sensation, why should it be called great
sensitive nerve  of  the head ?   This  name  would  indicate that it
bestowed feeling, but  not  motion.   You may  depend  upon it
(gentlemen) there is a great mistake in this mode of demonstra-
tion : the proper way is to trace this  nerve from its three princi-
ple  branches, the ophthalmic which passes through the foramen
lacerum anterius, the superior  maxillary through the  foramen
rotundum, and the inferior maxillary  through the foramen ovale.
These three  branches collect and form  a root, which passes
through the  gasserian ganglion,  which is  placed opposite  the
petrous portion of the temporal bone,  between the lamina? of the
dura mater.  This being a nerve of  sensation will pass  into  the
cerebellum. That nerve which passes through the foramen ovale,
should be described as a distinct nerve, its function being motion. 
23
The same should be pursued  with  the spinal nerves.  The mis-
taken and absurd notion that regular nerves had two roots, and
that irregular ones had but one root, arose from the fact of their
tracing all the nerves from the brain and spinal marrow.   If any
one of you were to trace this nerve or a spinal  nerve from the
cerebrum and  cerebellum, along the anterior and  posterior co-
lumns of the spinal cord, and finding two roots  emerging from
this cord, one having a  ganglion and the other none, but joining
its fellow and passing through  the  intervertebral foramina, are
finally distributed to remote parts: I say, that the natural conclu-
sion you would arrive  at, would be, that this was  double, and
consequently possessed  motion and  sensation.  Reverse things,
and trace this same nerve from its peripheral extremity and when
it has passed between the vertebra?, the two  nerves sepai ate; the
motor courses along the anterior column, terminating in the cere-
brum ; the other passes through a ganglio.n, and coursing along
the posterior column terminates in the cerebellum.
  Ninth—Pathetic nerve.  It arises from the superior part of the
spinal marrow, and courses along through the sphenoidal fissure,
to be  distributed on the superior oblique muscle.  This is a respi-
ratory nerve.
  Tenth—Nervous motor oculi. This takes origin from the in-
ternal face of the  crus  cerebri, and is a pure  motor nerve.  It
passes through the same fissure as  the last, and  is  distributed to
three  of the recti muscles and inferior oblique of the eye.
  Eleventh—Optic nerve.
  Twelfth—Olfactory nerve.
  These two last are also motor nerves.  I  make  the following
arrangement of the nerves of the brain, according  to their pecu-
liar functions.
  1st Set. Motor nerves.   They consist of the following:
            TNervus motor oculi, to four muscles of the eye.
Their organ  Optic nerve, to the retina.
cerebrum.    Olfactory nerve, to the Schneiderian membrane.
             Inferior maxilliary nerve.  This is the motor nerve
which passes  through the foramen ovale of the sphenoid bone.
I think it will yet be traced to the tongue, in connexion with the 
21
gustatory, a branch of the trigeminus.   Its distribution is to the
muscles of the lower jaw, and also, in my opinion, to the tongue.
Before concluding, I will explain my reason for thinking so.
  A Motor nerve, bound up with the portio  mollis, to  be  distri-
buted to the labyrinth of the ear.
  2d. Set. Sensitive nerves.
Their oKgan (Nervus portio mollis, to the labyrinth.
cerebellum.  (Nervus trigeminus, orbit, face, and tongue.
  3d. Set. Nerve of deglutition.
_            ,   ,  ( Glosso, pharyngeal nerve, to  the tongue
Organ pineal gland, j      ,   .
  &   r      &      (   and  pharynx.
  4th. Set. Respiratory nerves.
             Spinal accessory.  Muscles and integuments of neck.
          n  Hypo-glossal.  Tongue.
   ,  „       Par vagum. Organs of respiration and stomach.
             Portio dura.  Face, head, and  upper part of neck.
             Motor oculi externus.  To the rectus externus.
             Nervus patheticus.  To the  superior oblique.
Organ. Pituitary gland. )»5th. Set. Great ganglionic nerve.
  Spinal  Nerves, consist  of thirty-one  either  side.  These  are
compound, and  should therefore admit  of the following classifi-
cation :
         Sensitive.                          Motor.
    Eight cervical.                    Eight cervical.
    Twelve dorsal.                    Twelve dorsal.
    Five lumbar.                      Five lumbar.
    Five or six  sacral.                 Five or six sacral.
medulla
oblongata
      Thirty-one.                       Thirty-one.
Their organ cerebellum.             Their organ cerebrum.
  We will now run over  rapidly the nerves  distributed  to  the
thigh, leg, and foot. They are easy of description, being derived
or rather terminating in the lumbar and sacral nerves.  They are
three in number.
  First.—Is called anterior crural nerve.  It  passes under Pou-
part's ligament to the muscles for extending the leg.
  Second.—The obturator. This passes  from  the  pelvis to the
adductor muscles of the thigh, through the thyroid hole. 
25
   Third.—Ischiatic nerve.  This passes from the pelvis, through
the sacro-sciatic notch.  It runs to the back of the thigh into the
ham.  It supplies those muscles, but its  chief destination is to the
leg and foot.   The object nature  evidently had in view in thus
profusely  supplying the lower extremities, with motor and sensi-
tive nerves, was, that in the  event of one being  deprived of its
functions, the others would remedy the  defect. If such a precau-
tion had  not been wisely attended to, these important parts so
subject to injuries, might have been useless members.
   The distinct threads of a spinal nerve are combined  into a
whole, as they are about to pass through the  ganglion.  When so
collected,  it is called afascis, and the ganglion is formed or seated
in the  part where  the fascis is  surrounded  and united  to the
sheath.   We  come now to offer a few remarks  respecting the
phrenic nerve.  It is said to be formed by the anterior branch of
the second and third cervical nerves, assisted  by two or three fila-
ments from the  upper part of the  axillary plexus. I do, gentle-
men, unhesitatingly assert, that this cannot be the true mode of
its formation; for thus constituted it would possess  motion and
respiratory action.  Neither  of these functions have ever  been
ascribed to it. By Sir Charles Bell, the founder of the physiology
of the nervous system, it was regarded  and  described as a  respi-
ratory nerve.   To possess this function, which no one can ques-
tion, it must  of necessity be traced to the  medulla  oblongata.
Should the cervical vertebra? be fractured at the lower part of
the neck, and the spinal cord crushed, the individual would breathe
although no use of the parts below the fracture might  exist.  Life,
in this instance, is sustained by the nerves of respiration continu-
ing to act.  When it occurs above  the  fourth cervical vertebra?,
death soon occurs; but if above  the second, then instantaneous
destruction ensues.  I shall make no remarks in reference to the
nerves of the upper extremities, for  I have the same view of their
formation,  as was explained  when speaking of the  inferior ex-
tremities.
   Having now taken a  view of the nerves of the  three systems,
as established by Mr.  Bell, which he called motion, sensation and
respiratory action, I ask the  indulgence of my audience to  offer
                             4 
26
a few observations  upon the external senses.   They are  five in
number, vision, taste, smell, hearing and touch.
  First.—Vision. Its organ, the eye.
Optic nerve.   Motion for the retina.
Pathetic nerve.  Respiratory action, for superior oblique.
Ophthalmic.   First branch of the trigeminus sensation.
Motor oculi externus.  Respiratory action for rectus externus.
Nervus motor oculi.  Motion for three recti and inferior oblique.
  Second.—Smell.  Its organ the nose.
Olfactory nerve.  Motion for the Schneiderian membrane.
A branch of the portio dura.  Respiratory action.
Nasal branch  of the trigeminus.  Sensation.
  Third.—Taste. Its organ, the tongue.
  I am firmly convinced that the nerve which gives voluntary
motion to the  tongue, will yet be  traced  through the foramen
ovale of the sphenoid bone,  proving to be that nerve which is de-
scribed as a root of the trigeminus.
Inferior maxillary nerve.  Motion for the tongue.
Gustatory, a branch of the trigeminus.  Sensation.
Hypo-glossal.   Respiratory action.
  All anatomists and physiologists at the present day appropriate
to the tongue, another respiratory nerve called the glosso-pharyn-
geal.   I do not at all regard the function of  this nerve as one of
respiratory action, motion, or sensation; but ascribe it to quite a
different action in the animal structure.   I regard it as intended
by nature as formed for the action of deglutition.  This nerve
connects the pharynx and tongue, and by its  influence in the act
of swallowing, these parts  being approximated,  form a perfect
channel to allow  of the fluid passing into  the pharynx without
going  into the larynx.  When the tongue is influenced  by this
nerve, the epiglottis, being  attached to its  base, is drawn down,
and the rima glottidis is closed. This prevents the  passage of any
kind of substance into  the  trachea, unless the fluid before a full
action, should have wended its way into  the larynx before its
opening was closed. The result would be instantly followed with
coughing, and tickling sensation in the throat.  If the substance
on the contrary, be hard, and completely shut up the chink, unless 
27
 it be  immediately extracted, or an opening be made  into the
 larynx to allow the air to pass into the lungs, death must inevita-
 bly occur.
   My reason for regarding  the glosso-pharyngeal  nerve, as en-
 tirely distinct in its function from all the others, arises from the
 fact, that an individual may lose the power of swallowing, and yet
 he lives on.  On the contrary, let respiratory action cease, and
 what then occurs ?  I answer, death.  I think this illustration must
 convince you all, that a nerve of respiratory action is incompe-
 tent to the task.  Of course, then it cannot terminate in the cere-
 brum, cerebellum,  medulla oblongata,  nor pituitary gland.  Why
' may it not then, be yet traced to the pineal gland, having that as
 its organ.   As the  function of deglutition may be suspended for a
 time, without producing death, I give it a range at the  head of
 organic life: for instance,  1 motion,  2 sensation, 3 deglutition,
 4 respiratory action, and last of all sympathetic action.  The two
 first belong purely to animal life, and the three last  to  organic
 life.
   A word regarding the pathology of hydrophobia, the characteris-
 tic feature of which is an impossibility of swallowing exists. Let
 us, for the sake of  argument, suppose  that the true physiology of
 this nerve is as I have stated. A person is suddenly bit by a mad
 dog, the poison traverses by absorption the nurileme of the motor
 and sensitive nerves; it  then gives rise to great  agitation and an-
 guish  of feeling.   When it  attacks tho glosso-pharyngeal, then
 difficulty of swallowing ensues; then  the nerves  of  respiration
 become affected, and difficult respiration is the  result, and last of
 all the sympathetic; then instantaneous dissolution takes place.
   Those nerves which are most extended in their distribution,
 are first affected, and so on, until all are involved.  This is based
 upon the most scientific principles, and has facts to sustain it.
 Who can doubt for a moment, that the  nerves distributed to the
 hand, are more exposed to inflammation than those whose  desti-
 nation is to  the tongue.  The reason  why  dread of water is a
 constant attendant  upon this disease, arises from the painful con-
 vulsion that  ensues.  The patient is thirsty, and  the  moment that
 any liquid, or even  the  sound produced by its falling, is brought 
28
 near him, an effort is made to swallow, but the nerve being in-
 flamed, is incompetent to perform its function, and a most painful
 feeling is occasioned.  Offer this fluid again, and no attempt will
 be made to swallow, the  patient dreading the result.   A strong
 argument for the support of this opinion, may be adduced ;  and
 that is, the length of time the poison or contagion remains in the
 system, without developing the disease.  It has been said to have
 made its appearance in twenty-four hours.   I do not  altogether
 believe this; and if  it docs, it is of rare occurrence, and in per-
 sons of very irritable habit.  The usual time of its appearance is
 in three weeks to six months, though it is stated to have occured
forty years after its insertion into the system. If ever, gentlemen,
 this should prove to  be the fact, this  nerve should be called  the
 nerve of deglutition.  The disease is certainly  nervous, and is rare-
 ly attended  by distinct febrile symptoms.  The pulse in the com-
 mencement differs but little from  its natural condition.  After a
 short time  elapses  it becomes small, weak, and irregular, also
 very  frequent   Death takes place about  the second day, and is
 seldom protracted beyond the sixth.   Were I called to treat  this
 disease in its first stage, I should apply leeches along the course
 of the nerve, and cups to either side of the  spine; apply volatile
 liniment to the throat, administer a cathartic enema, and having
 relieved  the bowels,  substitute nutritious ones ; confine the patient
 to a dark room, and allow no noise  near him ; give  directions
 that no fluids or eatables be placed in his way.  By this treatment
 I have strong hopes  that this incurable, « necessarily fatal" disease
 according to the distinguished Eberle, would yeild to physiologi-
 cal treatment.  I have no doubt but that the ganglions  of animal
 and organic life, would present traces of inflammatory action, if
 closely examined after death.   If this should be proved, it would
 add strongly  to the confirmation  of my views.  My object in
 administering nourishing  injections " per anum," is for the pur-
 pose of sustaining the system, until I could subdue the  inflamma-
 tion existing in the glosso-pharyngeal nerve.   Confining him to a
 dark  and quiet room, at once cuts off external stimuli and allows
 the senses to repose.
   When motion and sensation are destroyed in a dying man, you 
29
 will find that he breathes gasping, and that  the  tongue is drawn
 forwards to  raise the epiglottis.  This is accomplished by the
 nervous influence of the  hypo-glossal nerve, and is a respiratory
 action.  When the  glosso-pharyngeal acts, the rima glottidis is
 closed, and consequently no  air could possibly  pass  into  the
 trachea.   This simple fact alone must lead  you to believe that it
 cannot be a respiratory nerve.   What nerve bestows that volun-
 tary power upon  the tongue, by which it  is enabled to move in
 accordance with the will ?  It cannot be  the  hypo-glossal, for
 this is a respiratory nerve, and acts  without the influence of the
 will.  I should say, that the nerve already described by myself, is
 the proper motor.
   Fourth.—Touch. Its organ, the skin.
 A motor nerve,  )
 A sensitive nerve, i The>r come from the sPinal nerves*
   Fifth.—Hearing.  Its organ, the ear.
   The nerves of hearing having been fully demonstrated, I shall
 merely name them.
   1st. Set.—These are purely for the labyrinth.
        Portio mollis, for sensation.
        A nerve connected with it, for motion.
  2d. Set.—These are purely for the tympanum.
        A branch of the portio dura, for respiratory action.
        Vidian nerve, a branch of the trigeminus, for sensation.
        A branch from the motor nerve, connected with the por-
          tio mollis.
  I  am strongly induced  to conclude, that the vidian nerve, a
 branch of the second branch of the trigeminus, does  not form
 the sensitive nerve of the ear, but is merely  sent to form a con-
 nexion with the portio dura, or respiratory nerve of the face.
 The portio mollis, being in  my opinion, formed of two roots; a
 motor and  a sensitive. The route  through the vidian, seem to
 to my mind, a very indirect mode of communicating the sense of
 hearing to  the cerebellum.  This  concludes the five senses as
enumerated.
  The pineal gland.  Organ of deglutition,  is a soft greyish body,
irregularly round, something like the heart of a frog. It consists 
30
of cineritious and medullary matter, and we know that this is the
construction of the cerebrum, cerebellum, &c.  Its long diameter
amounts to three or four lines, while the  short  diameter is about
three lines.
   Gentlemen,  the  field of science is open before you, and you
have the same right as the  oldest medical  man in this assembly,
to cultivate, and then bring forth its fruits for the benefit of all.
A few years back, and the filaments of the optic  nerves were sup-
posed to entirely decussate  each other.  Now you all are  aware
that some pass  direct  to the retina, and  that  others decussate.
Suppose I had had the  audacity to suggest  this  fact, what  would
have been the  result ?   I  should merely have been considered as
an impudent little man;  but  that would be of trifling consideration
provided I should ever  be enabled to illustrate  its practicability.
Excuse  me, gentlemen, if  I should assure you,  that this idea did
originate in my own mind,  but I dared  not reveal it for fear of
being laughed  at.  The first time it ever occured  to  me, was
while reading  " Hennen's Military Surgery," whilst a student in
Baltimore,  in  the years  1831-2. While  engaged in attentively
perusing this work, I came across  the following case, which  I
shall state in the words of the author. The case was attended by
a Mr. Hill.  " It appears that a man had been under his care for
a long time, with a severe  injury, affecting the head generally;
his friends, despairing of the possibility of saving his life, brought
him to his home. Repeated attacks of fever, inflammation, and
suppuration  of the brain, took place.  When  the inflammation
was in the forepart, the  candle  appeared double; when backwards
with a circle about it;  but after  the free eruption of  the matter,
the candle appeared single  and distinct."  I attempted to account
for it, in the following manner.   In the  first instance the  decus-
sating filaments of the  optic nerve were compressed, while those
which passed direct to the  retina, produced each a separate ob-
ject, and thus diplopia was the result.  In the second instance the
direct were compressed together with the decussating, and a cir-
cle was formed, which was nothing more than imperfect vision.
When, however, all pressure was removed, both sets  of filaments
renewed their  functions, and distinct vision was  produced. 
31
  Sir A. Cooper says, that sensation and volition depend upon the
brain,  the  spinal marrow and the nerves, yet the involuntary
functions depend principally upon the nerves.  No one  of you,
gentlemen, can avoid admiring this greatest of all surgeons, and
therefore I with reluctance say, that if this  is really his opinion of
the physiology of the nerves, it is an erroneous one.  Sensation and
volition, according to the  views  set forth  here, are produced by
motor and sensitive nerves,  with their organs the cerebrum and
cerebellum.  The involuntary functions, on the contrary, consist
of deglutition, respiratory action, and sympathy; they are pro-
duced through the nerves, with their organs pineal gland, medulla
oblongata, and pituitary gland.  We are enabled to prove by ac-
tual experience, that when injuries occur to the spinal cord, the
effect is fn proportion to  the injury committed.  If sufficient to
prevent the transmission of sensation and motion, and if attempts
are not made for its speedy  relief, the interchange which  exists
between the spinal nerves and sympathetic being stopped, death
must ensue.  Suppose this great  nerve had been  placed in  the
spinal cord, and running, as it must have done, from the coccyx
to the base  of the skull,  to what would it have  been exposed ?
Concussion, extravasation fracture, fracture with depression, sup-
puration and ulceration.
  A part may be paralized, that is deprived of motion, or sensa-
tion, or both.  Eberle says, that  cases of partial paralysis are at-
tended With loss only of sensorial power.   According to his re-
marks, one would suppose that the sense of smell  or vision was
occasioned by these nerves.   Such cannot be the fact, and I think
I can  prove it.  What kind of nerves are  those called olfactory
and optic?  The answer would be, motor nerves.  Why are they
so ?  Because when examined, they are found to terminate in the
cerebrum.  I will suppose that one of you have asked me, if the
optic nerve is paralized, why does vision cease ?  I should  reply,
that if the retina (which  is  thought to  be  an  expansion of the
nerve,) is not presented to the stimulus of light in consequence of
paralysis of the nerve sent to it, no perception in the  cerebellum
could be the  result.
  To be plain as possible, I  state, that it is my belief that the re- 
32
tina and Schneiderian membrane of the nose, are originally form-
ed  to convey outward impressions, and that a nerve  of motion
and sensation is distributed to them—one presents  the  surface of
these structures to their appropriate stimuli, and the other con-
veys the  sensation to the brain  and perception  is  produced.
When the supra-orbital nerve is wounded, Doctor  Gibson says,
that it almost invaribly gives rise to amaurosis, and further says,
that there is probably no instance on record, in which the patient
has perfectly recovered his sight. We know, then, that  this nerve
is a branch of  the nasal  branch of the first branch of  the trige-
minus ;  consequently, it gives sensation.  If, then, the destruction
of this branch should destroy vision, I am supported in my opinion
that the optic is purely for motion. 
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