Unpublished paper, 'Anatomical and physiological observations on the organ of vision for the purpose of ascertaining the alteration caused by section of the optic nerve' by Augustus [Volney] Waller

Description

Waller begins by referring to experimental researches already published by him on the effects produced on the nerves of living animals by section at different points in their course. He briefly recapitulates the chief results of these experiments, as follows: firstly, section of a spinal nerve on the distal side of its ganglion is followed by degeneration of the part of the nerve beyond the section, whilst the part still connected with the ganglion retains its integrity; secondly, section of the posterior root of a spinal nerve induces no change in the trunk or branches of the nerve beyond the ganglion, nor in the portion of the root which remains connected with the ganglion, whereas the part of the root attached to the spinal cord, but disconnected with the ganglion, becomes disorganised. His conclusion from these experiments, which have been varied in different ways, is that 'the spinal ganglion is the centre of the nutritive power of the nerve-fibres adherent to it'.

Annotations in pencil and ink throughout.

Subject: Anatomy / Physiology / Ophthalmology / Optometry

Received 10 January 1856. Read 17 January 1856.

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 8 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'Anatomical and physiological observations on the organ of vision, for the purpose of ascertaining the alterations caused by section of the optic nerve'.

Reference number

AP/38/4

Earliest possible date

1856

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

18 pages

Format

Manuscript