DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4812#0056
46 OBSERVATIONS ON THE
and extensors of the fore-arm; it is evidently better sor us, that the one
half of each nerve goes to the flexors, and the other hals os each to the
extensors, than that the whole of the first nerve {hpuld have gone to the
ssexors, and the whole of the second to the extensors. For is, by accident
or disease, one of these nerves Ihould be cut across, or lose its powers, we
lhould, on the first supposition, preserve one hals os the power both os
ssexion and extension, which would surely be preserable to our possessing
fully the ssexion, without any power os extension.
i
If a Hill greater number of nerves is employed to supply the flexors and
extensors, the loss of power, arising from an accident happening to one os
the trunks of the nerves, will be felt in a much smaller degree; thus, in
the arm, where five trunks are found, a fisth part only os the power would
be lost.
SECT. III.
i. Notwithstanding we have observed that the sibres os the nerves, in
their course, are much more intimately intermixed than has been supposed,
still, as their branches do not anastomose, there is little or no reason sor
believing that the energy os one sibre can directly affect that os a neigh-
bouring or contiguous sibre, or that the sympathy os nerves can depend
directly on their connection in their progress. We are, theresore, led to
reser it, in the sirft place, to their connections in the brain, where we have
sound there are many more medullary sibres than are susncient to sorm a
bulk equal to all the nerves, and where, besides, many os the sibres seem
evidently intended to connect opposite sides os the brain.
2. But although we cannot, srom the intermixture of the nervous fibres
in their course, account sor their sympathy, but are obliged to reser the
cause to their connections in the brain, in which the seeling principle is
feated; yet, from sinding that each small branch os a nerve is derived srom
various sources, we perceive, that an injury done to it may affect and irri-
<.... tate
and extensors of the fore-arm; it is evidently better sor us, that the one
half of each nerve goes to the flexors, and the other hals os each to the
extensors, than that the whole of the first nerve {hpuld have gone to the
ssexors, and the whole of the second to the extensors. For is, by accident
or disease, one of these nerves Ihould be cut across, or lose its powers, we
lhould, on the first supposition, preserve one hals os the power both os
ssexion and extension, which would surely be preserable to our possessing
fully the ssexion, without any power os extension.
i
If a Hill greater number of nerves is employed to supply the flexors and
extensors, the loss of power, arising from an accident happening to one os
the trunks of the nerves, will be felt in a much smaller degree; thus, in
the arm, where five trunks are found, a fisth part only os the power would
be lost.
SECT. III.
i. Notwithstanding we have observed that the sibres os the nerves, in
their course, are much more intimately intermixed than has been supposed,
still, as their branches do not anastomose, there is little or no reason sor
believing that the energy os one sibre can directly affect that os a neigh-
bouring or contiguous sibre, or that the sympathy os nerves can depend
directly on their connection in their progress. We are, theresore, led to
reser it, in the sirft place, to their connections in the brain, where we have
sound there are many more medullary sibres than are susncient to sorm a
bulk equal to all the nerves, and where, besides, many os the sibres seem
evidently intended to connect opposite sides os the brain.
2. But although we cannot, srom the intermixture of the nervous fibres
in their course, account sor their sympathy, but are obliged to reser the
cause to their connections in the brain, in which the seeling principle is
feated; yet, from sinding that each small branch os a nerve is derived srom
various sources, we perceive, that an injury done to it may affect and irri-
<.... tate