Remarks on scepticism, especially as it is connected with the subjects of organization and life : being an answer to the views of M. Bichat, Sir T. C. Morgan, and Mr. Lawrence upon those points / by Thomas Rennell.

Rennell, Thomas, 1786-1824.

Date:: 1819

Credit: Remarks on scepticism, especially as it is connected with the subjects of organization and life : being an answer to the views of M. Bichat, Sir T. C. Morgan, and Mr. Lawrence upon those points / by Thomas Rennell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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$forme, et par leurs nodosit^s paroissent etre des absor- bans. Cependant on ¥i peu de preuves positives sur leur nature. On pense qu'ils suivent les arteres caro- tides et vertebrales et qu'ils sortent du crane avec eiles. Quelque petites glaudes absorbantes trouvees dans le canal carotidien seaiblent confirmer cette opinion^ Ainsi on ne pent guere revoquer en doute I'existenoe des ab- sorbans cerebraux, raais leur histoire anatomique est encore tr^s-obscure, Bichat Aiiatomie descriptive, continued by Buisson, vol. iv. p. 483. Bell's Anatomy, vol. ii. p. 333. See also Haller, Monro, Mascagni, &c. &c. P. 98. The iveight of the whole hrain generally arrives Mi its maximum at the age of three years.'] Vide Wenzel de Penitiorum struct, p. 254. A very good abstract of the investigation of the Wenzels will be lound in Gordon's Sys- tem of Anatomy, p. 172. I am aware that this opinion of the Wenzels has been objected to by some eminent physiologists; if, liow- ever, the brain does not reach its full dimensions at the age of seven years, it must yet be allowed that it reaches its maturity so very early, when compared with the other parts of the body, as fully to justify the inference which I have drawn from the fact. P. 100. The System of Gall and Spurzheim.} It must certainly be allowed, that this system does not of logical necessity terminate in materialism ; upon the minds however of those who are unable to reason with precision, it will always have the practical effect of leading them into that doctrine. It is moi-eover a favourite hypothesis, and much encouraged by most of those who profess themselves mate-\ rialists. ibid. Portions of the hrain various in situation and size, have been found disorganized.'} Two admirable ar- ticles appeared in the Edinburgh Review for 1815, the one$