Rudiments of animal physiology : for use in schools, and for private instruction / by G. Hamilton.

  • Hamilton, George, 1808-1885
Date:
1839
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Rudiments of animal physiology : for use in schools, and for private instruction / by G. Hamilton. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    78^ THE NERYOUS SYSTEM; fore part of these, cut into the first and second articulations, and separate the vertebrse from the head. The tooth-like process, the ligaments, &c., will then be seen. At the same time may be shown the ligament that supports the head, by cuttipg away the flesh behind the vertebrge. To give a clear idea of what a muscle is, it is interesting to take off the skin from a pigeon's breast, and show the extent of its immense pectoral muscle. On the other side, the muscle may be cut through to show its thickness ; and its attachment to the first bone of the wing (humerus) should be shown. A small muscle (lesser pectoral), having a different insertion, will be found beneath the great pectoral. The comparatively small size of the muscles of the leg, the tendons going to the toes, &c., may also be easily shown. A stucco cast, showing the superficial muscles of the human body, may also be made very interesting, when their uses can be explained. The inspection of a few skeletons or parts of skeletons of any of our common animals—a dog, cat, squirrel, weasel, mole, cock, swan, cod, &c.—adds greatly to the interest of this section ; and it is still better, where there is an opportunity, to visit such collec- tions as the Anatomical Museum belonging to the University or Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh. For appropriate figures to illustrate this section, see Penny Cyclopaedia, vol. -vnii. page 57 ;* Roget's Bridgewater Treatise, vol. i. pages 129, 178, 333, 337, 411, 437, 441, 447, 465, 630, 559 ; Bell on the Hand ; Dr Smith's Philosophy of Health, vol. i. pages 171, 189, 198, 205, 237, 312, 3211 Bell's Anatomy, vol. i, pages 254, 258.] SECTION VIII. THE NERVOUS SYSTEM. 148. We have now to enter on the consideration of those parts that essentially distinguish an animal from a vegetable, and the organs of the animal from those belonging to the organic life; or, in other vrords, we have to speak of the parts that give us the power of voluntary motion, and which enable us to feel and to think. 149. In all but the most simple animals, it is quite certain that sensation and voluntary motion depend on the nervous system. The nervous system of man consists of the brain, the spinal marrow, and the nerves. As these are all composed of nearly the same kind of substance, we may view the spinal marrow and brain as nervous matter collected into masses, and the nerves as the same matter diffused over every part of the * A figure taken from the London Fashions answers better than tlie modern beauty.*'
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