Essapist A NEW SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1604, 14 October 1882, Page 2 (Supplement)

Essapist A NEW SYSTEM OF PHILOSOPHY.

One of the most interesting and important books treating of the nervous system of man is that entitled" The Brain and its Functions," by J. Luys, Physician to the Hospital Saltpetriere, Paris. A new and ingenious method of studying the anatomy of the brain was devised and used by Dr. Luys, and through it he has been enabled to make many very important discoveries as to the histology of that organ, After, hardening the brain by appropriate reagents, it was divided into thin horizontal sections, and each section was photographed. Vertical sections from before, behind, and others from side to side were then made, and the experimenter thus had before him exact pictures of every region of the^human brain. The microscope was then brought to bear upon these sections, from which many detail? of anatomy which have hitherto eluded examination have been ascertained. In the more minute research into the histology of particular regions, sections of the parts to be studied were magnified an<t then photographed, and the microscope used in the study of the photographs themselves. In this way the minute anatomy of the gray matter of the cortical layer has been , more carefully and successfully studied than heretofore, and the origin, course' and distribution of the nervous fibres compos-, ing the white substance 'of the brain, together with like details' concerning the afferent and efferent nerves, have been discovered. The minute anatomy of those hitherto mysterious central ganglions called the corpora striata and optic thalami, has been an important addition to the stock of knowledge concerning the brain, and has thrown considerable .light upon its physiological functions. The optic thalami are' each composed of four ganglions, the first receiving the nerves conducting olfactory impressions, the second those conducting impressions of light, the third those con--ducting general impressions, and the fourth ■fcfidse conducting impressions of sound. " The ganglions 'are arranged in the above order from before'b'aokwarcl. All sensitive nerves pass through the op'ti,c thalami, which is t thus discovered to be concerned in the phenomena of sensation." Prom the' ganglions of the optic thalami nervous fibres pass into' the brain are^distributed to the seat of consciousnes in ,the'gra^ J matfer Of the 'cortex, following in their distribution the order in which the gangHqhs* themselves are arranged.' Thus, it is readily inferred thatparticolar^egiphs ' of- the ;cdrtex ;ai?^ f endowed', with special t functions, to 'be true by ex'p^nmenii'or£ living 5 anuDOaUTand by the 'study Sifidis«ise4m?'the^fiuman, Subject.' JFrom

The above are some »f the most inlt>qriant details of the anatomy of the brain as discovered by Da Luys, and they show .what a flood of light exact knowledge as to anatomy may throw upon that other important subject, the functions of the great centre of the nervous system. Upon such facts, and upon the three fundamental properties of organic celts — sensibility, organic phosphorence (property of retaining impressions) and automatism — Dr. Luys has built up a system of philosophy which is as novel as it is interesting. But in an article like this it is impossible to give a complete outline of the system that he unfolds. Its end; however, is materialism pure and simple, making us the sport of circumstance which influence us according to the number of nerve cells in a certain locality, and according to the greater or less vigor with which such cells exercise their three functions. The tendency of such a system of, philosophy as that set forth by Dr. Luys can best be shown in the words of Sir -William Hamilton : " For let us suppose that in maniintelligence is the product of organisation, that our consciousness of mortal liberty is itself only an illusion ; in short, that acts of volitionare results of the same iron necessity which determines -the phenomena of matter. On this supposition, I say, the foundations of all religion, natural and revealed, are subverted."