Unpublished paper, 'The localisation of function in the brain' by David Ferrier

Description

The chief contents of this paper are the results of an experimental investigation tending to prove that there is a localisation of function in special regions of the cerebral hemispheres. Besides confirming Hughlings Jackson’s views that localised and unilateral epilepsies are caused by irritation or 'discharging lesions' of the grey matter of the hemispheres in the region of the corpus striatum, Ferrier’s researches indicate an exact localisation in the hemispheres of centres, or regions, for the carrying out of simple and complex muscular movements of a definite character, and described by him as of a purposive, or expressional, nature.

Annotations in pencil throughout. Marked on front as 'Archives Dec 17/74'. Includes sixteen figures relating to the brains of macaques, dogs, jackals, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, pigeons and frogs.

Subject: Physiology / Neuroscience

Received 20 February 1874. Read 5 March 1874. Communicated by J [John Scott] Burdon Sanderson.

Written by Ferrier at 23 Somerset Street, Portman Square [London].

Whilst the Royal Society declined to publish this paper in full, an abstract of the paper was published in volume 22 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'The localization of function in the brain'.

Reference number

AP/56/2

Earliest possible date

1874

Physical description

Ink and graphite pencil on paper

Page extent

155 pages

Format

Manuscript
Drawing