"_Such were my reasons for concluding_ that the cerebrum and cerebellum were parts distinct in function, and that every nerve possessing a double function obtained that by having a double root. _I now saw the meaning_ of the double connection of the nerves with the spinal marrow; and also the cause of that seeming intricacy in the connections of nerves throughout their course, which were not double at their origins." It is impossible to reconcile the 1830 sentences with this vivid personal account of himself; _I had an opportunity of putting my opinion to the test of experiment ... an opportunity of proving ... Such were my reasons for concluding ... I now saw...._ It is just what all men of science say of their experiments: the very phrase of Archimedes, and Asellius, and de Graaf. If Sir Charles Bell had been working at the facts of chemistry or of botany, who would have doubted the meaning of these words? This same inconsistency of sentences occurs elsewhere in his _Nervous System of the Human Body_. In one place he says that he has made few experiments: _They have been simple, and easily performed, and I hope are decisive._ In another he says: "_After making several experiments on the cerebrum and cerebellum, I laid the question of their functions entirely aside_, and confined myself to the investigation of the spinal marrow and the nerves; _a subject which I found more within my power_, and which forms the substance of the present volume." Next, take his account of the cranial nerves:-- "It was necessary to know, in the first place, whether the phenomena exhibited on injuring the separate roots corresponded with what was suggested by their anatomy.... "Here a difficulty arose. An opinion prevailed that ganglions were intended to cut off sensation; and every one of these nerves, which I supposed were the instruments of sensation, have ganglions on their roots. Some very decided experiment was necessary to overturn this dogma. (Account of the experiment.) By pursuing the inquiry, it was found that a ganglionic nerve is the sole organ of sensation in the head and face: ganglions were therefore no hindrance to sensation; and thus my opinion was confirmed.... _It now became obvious_ why the third, sixth, and ninth nerves of the encephalon were single nerves in their roots....