Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-11-21
TIE NERVOUS system.

MonSieuc FIourens, slvant OF high distinction,
has just published second edition, dedicated to
the Academy, Of his previous "Experimental Re
searches the properties and functions OF the Ner
yous System, in vertebralcd Animals" OF this i'm
pouant work, we find abstract in the late French
journals; and il seems to US worthy OF being pre-.
senied TO our readers in Il translation.
"The present is (,ays tho notice) n work TO a
lsTge degree nov; IN which the nuthor has, il is
true, embCdied hIS former enquiries. that gained
him the elevated rank IN Sciences which he oceu-
pics: but those facts Of which the most part have
received the sanction Of lime end OF experiment
have all been reviewed by him with the precision
which talent and sagacity, rpeped, by reflection,
would give. Such qualities Mons. r. had shown -,
from the outset, by his analysis Of the difficult pro
blems which he undertook TO solve"
"Sueh problems reqone no, only the highest ana
tomica skill, and hand prae,iced to the most del
cafe operations, but mind the most iudicious and
philosophical, 10 follow the relations Of cause and
effect and never 10 lose the thread proper to guide
the Psychologist through the labyrinth Of the COM
plicattd phenomena, depending on the play ~ On
organ ~ which sensations terminate which PER-
CgIyEs and withstand from which, ct tho same
timc the voluntary movements spring. What m
gonOus devices in experiment must one not cantrivs
/ N trees tho separate effects, and What self com
nnand in order DO drawn into tho error, Of .
system maker, or taste for the wonderfulw
"In an Introduction highly perspicuous, Mons
| Y. has explained INC plan end the steps by which
/ no has gone fJruard, tho end which he propos,,
TO himself and the results which he has obtained
lie hero displays the sirno srctucss Of logic rhiel
marks his preceding laboufs, and in particular thos
IN which are 90 we'll discussed tho doctrines an,
the alterations OF Phrenoogy.D
The nervous system is divided los is known
into three principal psrs the Nerves, the Spina
Marrow. and the Brain. The structure Of the w.
latter 10 visibly distinct; but are their functions
separate Many physiOogisls have thought a.
but none has demonstrated II, ny precise exeori
mentf
"rhc difficult point was 10 arrive al preei,ion i
these subtle experiments. Hitherto, the paris he
not been insulated from each other, in the t1oeri
menu; there had been nOno bot confused ones; an
the phenomsna had therefore been complex, whe
they should have been simple"
"Mous. r. has been as careful as possible 10 CT
, cluds oil but tbs parts 10 which his experiment va
, directed, and 70 omit, IN his examinations no e,
sontial part Of The Csrebral mattsf.n
= "He thus lays down 10 himself the questions
> be determined; Does the faculty which wills an
e puesisss reside 10 the same paris az that which hi
the property Of SENSATION, and this last IN n
sans parts ~ the property Of giving mo,on1 +
THINK. 10 TgEt, 10 Hovg, are they one or three prt
pertos7 they di.tinet, the one from the orgsr
+ Of the otheT7
"These great questions, debated for many cent,
RIGS, we're yet TO be solved"
The experiments Of the learned Secretary Of u
" Academy prove, IS distinctly ~ possible, that tho