The Relations of Science and Religion: The Morse Lecture, 1880Calderwood, Henry
Religion
The Relations of Science and Religion: The Morse Lecture, 1880
Calderwood, Henry
Religion and science
By this process of investigation a series of centres for active
stimulation have been discovered. These number, in the brain of the rat,
six; in the brain of the rabbit, seven; of the cat, eleven; of the dog,
thirteen; and of the monkey, at least, seventeen. A curious limitation
to the area of experiment has been encountered here, for all the centres
identified are found to cluster over the central region of the brain,
and both the front and rear parts of the organ are silent, offering no
response however greatly stimulated. The explanation of this silence
remains a matter of doubt. It may be that these portions of the brain
are concerned with movements which do not come under the observation of
the operator, or that they are centres of sensibility from which no
movement can naturally follow, or that they fulfil functions which can
not be recognized by this mode of experiment. Uncertainty hangs over
this department in the investigation.
The actual results may be indicated by a few examples. At a point well
forward in the brain of the dog, marked number one by Ferrier, is a
centre which when stimulated leads to movement of the hind leg on the
opposite side; and by exciting another portion of the brain quite
contiguous, marked number four, movement of the opposite fore leg is
produced. By exciting a point situated over these two and on a distinct
convolution, wagging of the tail is induced. By transferring the needle
to a point much lower down, towards the base of the brain, but still
well forward, marked by Ferrier nine, the mouth is opened and the tongue
moved, while in many cases a decided bark is emitted. These examples
may suffice to indicate the class of results obtained; and similar
results have been seen in all animals subjected to this test, with such
variations as may be considered inevitable in view of the configuration
of the animal.
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