The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-23

DIR. Loeb, OF Chicago, on the Make-Up
OF the Nervous System.

New York Press
DR.. Jacques Loeb. OF the University OF
Chicago. has published some new and
rather startling theories regarding the
physiology of the brain. His Investigations
have convinced him that the nervous sys-
tenn is not made up OF 'centers' OF many
different functions. as heretofore has been
the accepted theory He says that we have
not an auditory center for hearing. q
visual center for seeing. and so on. but
that the nervous system Is comparatively
simple, and the various activities in mus
cular actions are due to the varying COM
plexity OF the muscles or organs them
selves. The doctor does not believe that
complex instincts are mysterious modihca-
tons Of the simpler ones. In his expert
ments with the lower animals he has
found that all nervous actions are rehcxes,
and to have a reflex action IL is necessary
only TO have irritability and conductibiIity.
Take the jellyfish. The doctor found that
the rhythmic INSTRUMENTATION and ex-
pansion-of the swimming bell Of the jelly
fish was due not as commonly supposed ia
the nerve ring around it, bit TO a chemical
irritation OF the bell. The problem of spon-
taneous action he considers no longer a
question OF the presence or absence or
ganglion cells, but OF the physical qualities
OF the collodial substances in the tissues
The nerves and ganglia play only the part
OF quicker and more sensitive conductor
for the stimulus
He cites the case of the actinians. one OF
the lowest forms of animal life These lit
tie creatures draw to their mouth with
their tentacles pieces Of crab meat and re-
Ject pieces OF soaked paper which may be
offered to them, thus showing a power OF
discrimination. That the tentacles will
grab eagerly the one substance and reject
the other Is due TO different chemical ac-
ton which the two substances have upon
them.
DR.. Loeb thinks that true happiness lies
In maintaining all our instincts at a certain
intensity. II We increase one more than
another dissipation. for instance) we lose
the secret Of happy living. Among the in
stincts on which the doctor places a high
value is that which he calls workman
ship" the desire TO work. VIII he regards
as only "a function of the mechanism OF as
sociative memory" The brain he regards
as only place for the activity of associa-
tive memory. When more IS known about
this associative memory IL Will be possible.
he says, TO tell when intelligence begins II
dog comes when its name is called. that
dog must have an associative memory. BY
this process OF reasoning the doctor takes
the ant out OF the high social plane IN
which 1t has been placed, for his investiga-
lions prove that its activities are due to
direct usually chemicaD stimulation The
wasp and the spider, on the other hand.
seem to use their eyes 10 learn, and may
therefore be credited with associative men,
DRY. According TO the old theory. there
must be feeding center in the nervous
organization OF the frog, a migrating CEN
ter In that OF the bird. and so on. but by
DR.. Loeb's theory such centers do not ex-
list. but all animals are moved 10 do what
they do either by chemical or direct irrita.
ton or by associative memory. moth.
he believes, flies into a flame just as natur-
ally as the sunfiower turns TO the sun.
In his experiments with animals, he re-
moved the brains from worms and dogs
and they lived without difficulty and moved
about. The dog without brains only
seemed little more foolish than the or
binary dog, sand was bothered when an
obstacle came in its way. In summing up
the results of his work, DR.. Loeb says:
1.-The nerve system is no longer a bio
logical problem, but a problem of physical
chemistry. The only specific function OF
the brain, or certain parts of IL. which we
have been able to find Is the activity OF
associative memory"