The placenta, the organic nervous system, the blood, the oxygen, and the animal nervous system, physiologically examined / by John O'Reilly.

  • O'Reilly, John
Date:
1861
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The placenta, the organic nervous system, the blood, the oxygen, and the animal nervous system, physiologically examined / by John O'Reilly. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    Proofs to demonstrate that Life is not located in the Cerebro-Spinal System, inasmuch as Life exists where the Cerebro-Spinal System is wanting. Mr. Quain says: Now, as to the sympathetic nerve, so far from being in any way derived from the brain or spinal cord, it is produced independently of either, and exists not- withstanding the absence of both. It is found perfectly formed in acephalous infants, therefore does not arise, mediately or immediately, from the brain; neither can it be said to receive roots from the spinal cord, for it is known to exist as early in the fcetal state as the cord itself, and be fully developed, even though the latter is altogether wanting. It appears that whilst the organs of vegetation and life are being formed, the sympathetic nerves are produced concurrently with them; and that as the growth of these parts proceeds from the circumfer- ence to the centre of the whole body, from its lateral parts to the median line, the sympathetic nerves also conform to the general law.—See Quain's Elements of Anatomy, p. 711. The class of animals known as the Invertebrata have no cerebrospinal nervous system, and yet are fully endowed with vital powers. The brain of a sheep or rabbit may be totally destroyed without hilling the animal* The head may be separated from the body by decapitation performed between the atlas and occipital bone, without destroying life, either in the head or body. The mouth of a sheep will open and close, and the body will give evidence of strength for some minutes. It will be remembered that although the brain and central ganglion has been destroyed, yet that the cerebral and sphenopalatine ganglions remain untouched; and that the muscles in the neigh- borhood of the mouth receive filaments from the sphenopala- tine ganglion; as also that in the body, the prevertebral, the cardiac, the pulmonary, and semilunar ganglions are gangli- ons of the vital or organic nervous system, and continue un- touched. As proved by vivisections by the author.
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