IX. Observations on the anatomy, physiology and degenerations of the nervous system of the bird

Abstract

This research was originally undertaken as a continuation of the studies on the pyramidal system made by one of us in Professor Horsley’s laboratory in 1894. This early led to the discovery of the fact, which was demonstrated at the time, that in birds the pyramidal system, as such, does not exist, and that after complete removal of one hemisphere the resulting degeneration in no case extends lower than the mesencephalon. All workers, with the exception of Sandmeyer, are now agreed upon this point. In this communication we wish to give a general account of the nervous tracts in the bird, and to consider their functional significance.