Inaugural dissertation on the nature of respiration, and the extent of its connection with the nervous system / [George Augustus Frederick Wilks].

  • Wilks, George Augustus Frederick.
Date:
1835
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Inaugural dissertation on the nature of respiration, and the extent of its connection with the nervous system / [George Augustus Frederick Wilks]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Of the Nervous System in the “ Mollusca The nervous system in this class bears a close resem¬ blance to that in the preceding ; there is no union of the nervous cords into a spinal marrow, but only into medul¬ lary masses or ganglia, which exhibit a greater tendency to the circular than the longitudinal arrangement in relation to each other. The largest of these encircle the esophagus. Of the real function of Respiration in the two preceding Classes. Experiments on the changes produced in the atmospheric air by the respiration of invertebrate animals, were con¬ ducted with great care by that indefatigable physiologist Spallanzani,* and some of them have been recently re¬ peated by Dr Edwards.-)* The result is, to prove that the changes are closely analogous, if not identical with those produced by the respiration of the vertebrate animals ; that although, like many of the “ batracia,” they can endure an atmosphere devoid of oxygen for some hours, yet that a longer period of privation proves fatal to their existence ; that the air respired contains carbonic acid, and that when immersed in hydrogen or other gases destitute of oxygen, carbonic acid is nevertheless produced during the experi¬ ment. Of those which respire aerated water, the capacity of enduring the deprivation of oxygen is increased or di¬ minished inversely as the temperature. Of Respiration in Fishes. In this class of vertebrate animals, respiration is univer- * Mem. sur la Respiration. Geneve 18011. -j- Influence des A gens Phys. sur la YTie.
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