substance?" I have deemed it proper to investigate the specimen by its physical zootomic characters, microscopical observations, and, also, chemical analysis, and compare these with the sound brain just extracted from the cranium.

The ossified brain is, externally, of a dirty-white colour, approaching to yellow; inside, it is of a yellowish ash-colour, which varies in its intensity in the various deep and superficial striæ; for which reasons one may conclude that the ossified brain in question is formed of two substances, differing in colour, as, in fact, the cortical and medullary substances present themselves in the brain. I shall, however, omit naming the different colours of the several cerebral laminæ. The smell of the dust obtained in sawing through the brain is like that of horn. Its taste is unpleasantly sweet. The ossified brain is much heavier than the sound one. The tissue is compact, laminated, and striated. It is easily filed. Its form, if not exactly like that of a bullock's brain, closely resembles it. In it one may see the two cerebral hemispheres, and the divisions between the cerebrum and cerebellum.

The difference between the superior and inferior portion of the lobes is observable. As it regards the cerebral circumvolutions, if in the right half they be irregular, such they do not seem to be in the left, where is preserved the roundness and gradual declivity in all directions. If the objects on the different surfaces are to be considered separately, some of them are to be seen which have retained their primitive form.

In the anterior surface going from the division of the cerebellum to the cerebrum, is observable the first transversal circumvolution more voluminous than in the left half: it loses itself subsequently, but in the right half it unites itself with the longitudinal medium which limits the dividing line of the hemispheres. Among the many circumvolutions, the third in the left half is worthy of notice; but this one soon vanishes among the equal protuberance in the remainder of the superior portion of the left lobe, until one finds the same surface.

In the posterior surface is observable the portion of the cerebellum separated in form from the one of the brain. In this place is wanting the pons varolii and the medulla oblongata; and there

is only to be seen a small protuberance, which proceeds from the edge of the brain, and reaches the right lobe of the cerebellum, which it partly covers; but on this organ the dividing vermicular prominence is not visible, therefore a precise form cannot be given to it, because in this place is one of the slits above-mentioned. The existence of one of the divisions of the brain cannot be imagined, except in the left half, and the square form of the optic nerves is hardly discernible on this part likewise, the brain here not being entire, on account of a part having been sawn off. The olfactory nerves mix themselves in the cerebral circumvolutions. The membranous tissue folds itself in places in the various parts of the external surface, as if the brain were involved in its true membrane.

In the sound brain the convolutions are more regular and in greater number above and in the centre, than below, laterally or behind. They are not very deep, and, dividing the brain in the direction of the ventricles, which in bullocks are narrow and placed towards the anterior lobes, is to be observed a substance like marrow, surrounded by a limited substance of a yellowish ash colour. In the posterior surface the parts are distinct and well marked, commencing from the medulla oblongata and going downwards. The ossified brain being placed in this cranial cavity, although it did not perfectly fill it, yet one could see that it had the necessary form to occupy a similar one rather less capacious; a thing easily understood, knowing that the bones of the cranium follow the development of the cerebral substance.

To these observations I have added those of the microscopical and chemical investigation; and, this establishment not being as yet in possession of the necessary instruments, I was kindly presented with them by Professors Balsamo, Crivelli, and Dr. Polli, Assistant Lecturer of Technical Chemistry.

With Amici's microscope I examined,

1st. The powder obtained in sawing the brain, which presented the appearance of a laminated cellular tissue, of an irregular figure.

2d. A splint composed of a substance similar to the cerebellum, which to the naked eye did not exhibit any tissue, did not present by the aid of the microscope any thing but spots more or less dense, in which could be seen some small scales.

3d. A small piece of tooth-like substance, similar to the cerebellum, also did not shew any thing but spots more or less intense, with small scales.

4th. Likewise in the powder of this small piece nothing particular was to be seen.

5th. In the powder obtained from the external surface of the splint was visible a cellular filamentous tissue.

6th. A small portion, which I thought was membranous, taken from a spot on the external surface near the right posterior lobe, presented a tubulous mass.

7th. Another small portion of the same, suspended in water, presented some filaments platted together in various manners with spherical bodies, and with a higher power, small tubes were visible and minute spherical bodies.

8th. The powder of the same diffused in water likewise presented small tubes and little bodies like bladders.

9th. Another portion of membranous substance taken from the anterior left lobe shewed small tubes with minute ramifications like spherical vases and small bodies, which were seen to be opaque by the reflecting mirror, and of a transparent yellowish colour when the mirror was put far off.

Having examined the bone powder with Amici's microscope, and various parts of the brain just taken from the skull of an ox, I obtained,

First; From the powder scraped from the naturally formed. skull of an ox, tried both when dry and in water, the scaly tissue.

Second; In a portion of a substance like marrow, small spherical bodies; with a higher power, the same with filaments; and with a still higher power, the same with more developed filaments. Third; In a portion of skinny or membranous substance, very small spherical bodies.

Fourth; In a portion of pia mater, united granules in bands. Fifth; In the powder of the sound brain dried in the oven, the cellular tissue not very distinct, with tubes of small round and oblong bodies of a yellowish colour.

Respecting the analysis kindly made by Dr. Polli, it appears that the brain in question is composed of phosphate and carbonate of lime, of phosphate of magnesia and chlorure of soda. Of the first there is a large quantity, of the second moderate, and the last two

VOL. I.

are merely traceable. He doubts whether there exists any fluorure of lime. With these is found animal matter in a small quantity, but less than half of that which is usually contained in bones.

Considering the above analysis exact, and having compared it with the best analysis, which admits in the bullock's brain muriate of soda, the sulphates and phosphates of lime, ammonia, and magnesia, the chlorure of soda, and the phosphate and carbonate of lime, a great analogy appears between them*.

We must, therefore, conclude that, considering attentively the physical zootomic characters, with the results of the microscopic observations and the chemical analysis, we may safely assert that the ossified brain contained true cerebral substance, which of necessity diminished in consequence of the enormous increase of dentitious or tooth-like substance.

III.—The point which offers a physiological question, and one very difficult to answer, is that based on Professor Leroy's inquiry, Whether an animal with such a brain could live in perfect health? According to the Professor's opinion, it seems as if we are obliged to maintain that the vital actions of this animal corresponded exactly to the conditions of life, and that all the organs regularly reacted with the agents indispensable to existence. Yet, as there is another mode of explaining health which can be made use of in the present case, so each one may interpret it as he pleases. Following in this particular the principles of one of the most renowned schools of Germany, although expressed in different words by one of the most celebrated Italian physiologists, I distinguish in life three manifestations, which present themselves in the phenomena of sensibility, movement, and vegetation; to which correspond, as fundamental forms, the nervous mass, the muscular fibre, and the cellular tissue, over which preside the cerebral and spinal nerves, and those of the great sympathetic. The

• Professor John, besides the above-named principles, has found in the cerebral substance of a calf phosphate of iron and silex.

Lassaigne and Lauret maintain that the horse's brain contains water, osmazome, albumen, chloride of sodium, sub-carbonate of soda, phosphate and carbonate of lime, like that of man. Vauquelin found in the nervous substance, water, a white thick matter and some red matter, osmazome, albumen, phosphorus united to the two thick substances, sulphur, phosphate of potash, and phosphate of lime and magnesia.

most important object which offers itself to our consideration respecting the nervous mass, seems to me to be that which demonstrates whether an organ modified in its organization may at any time manifest its natural phenomena? Leaving this question for the present, I shall examine the facts necessary to explain this case, which is one certainly very rarely met with. Every one present knows, that there are many authors, whom I do not deem it necessary to mention, who, studying the various phenomena attributed to the nervous system, have had a wish to discover its primitive origin. The existence, seat, and functions of the soul have long been a subject of discussion, a problem which I hold it is difficult to solve. Having made a distinction between the spirit and the soul, the brain has been considered the seat of the latter; but the malformed or altered structure of the brain in idiots and fools gave rise to an inquiry as to which place in these the soul occupied; and after all the peculiarities of the encephali had been examined, arose the acephali, who having no brain, and nerves extremely developed, presented new matter for physiological inquiry. Then were more profoundly studied the medulla oblongata and the medulla spinalis, and the great intercostal nerve: especial nerves were also assigned to sense, motion, and to the vegetative process; and it was concluded that the body could be animated without the presence of the brain, and that the cerebrum was either the origin or the termination of the nervous system.

What surprise will then be created in the minds of you, gentlemen, who are here assembled, by an ossified brain, and particularly in him who knows the strength of the nervous mass in the invertebrata, the power of the medulla oblongata, and of the nervous prolongations in the vertebrated class of animals, with the power that animal magnetism may have?

If we are allowed to admit, what facts prove, that not unfrequently a transposition of the senses takes place, and that the organs are developed and are sensible without an encephalon, so much more readily we can admit their existence with this modification. Is it impossible to explain the formation of this brain or one of a similar nature? Every physiologist knows that the cellular tissue is one of the fundamental forms of the organism, as well as of the bony system, and that in these latter predominate lime and other earthy matters united with phosphoric acid: now, if it be true that in the blood are traceable all the materials of the