The nervous system and its functions / By Herbert Mayo.

  • Herbert Mayo
Date:
1842
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The nervous system and its functions / By Herbert Mayo. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    directly towards or from masses of gray mat- ter. Where the nervous system has the most ample organic developement, as in the brain, the superficies, or expanded terminal part, con- sists of the gray texture. It may be added that gray nervous matter is considerably more vascular than white,—a fact of itself indicating a higher function. HHI. The lowest manifestation of consciousness in animal life involves two elements,—sen- sation, and the origination thereupon of an effort towards motion. In the humblest forms of animal life there is no evidence of the possession of further mental endowments. Perception follows later ; and variety of impulse, with choice determined by instinct or reason. No feature in nature’s works is more remark- able than the avoidance of abruptness of tran- sition. In the mimosa pudica I discovered the existence of surfaces endued with what may be called acute organic sensibility, on the slightest excitement of which other parts acted to throw down the leaf and close the leaflets ; so there exist in this mimosa parts compara- ble to sentient organs,—parts that originate motion,—and something intermediate to. con-
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