ration, remarkably in accord with the manifestations
of Influenza.

Concisely stated, the physiological function of the _Vagus nerve_ is to
regulate the process of breathing, tasting, swallowing, appetite,
digestion, etc.; and the result of its failure to function would create
coughing, choking, indigestion--separately or in combination. Its mental
functions include the expression of shame, desire, disgust, grief,
torture, depression and despair.

The following is its academic description:

_Vagus_ or Pneumogastric nerve (tenth cranial); function--sensation and
motion; originates in the floor of the fourth ventricle (the space which
represents the primitive cavity of the hind-brain; it has the pons and
oblongata in front, while the cerebellum lies dorsal), and is
distributed through the ear, pharynx, larynx, lungs, esophagus, and
stomach; possesses the following branches--auricular, pharyngeal,
superior and inferior laryngeal, cardiac, pulmonary, esophageal,
gastric, hepatic, communicating, meningeal.

It is interesting to compare the scope and characteristics of the Vagus,
as here defined with the details of Prof. Kuhnemann's diagnosis of
Influenza and to draw conclusions.

In order to establish more unmistakably the symptomatic sympathetic
connection between the Vagus and Influenza, it may be well to touch
briefly upon the initial processes of metabolism and nerve production.

An inherent impulse in the ovum (protoplasm or egg cell) serves to
separate the albuminous substance into groups of an opposite nature.
Water is chemically separated from one portion, which results in
thickening the albumen from which it was extracted, while the liberated
water aids in liquifying another portion of the albuminous matter. Thus,
on one side slender threads arise, termed fibrine or filaments, and on
the other lymph fluid appears, which receives the particles of salts
freed from the filaments during their chemical separation. When the
fibrine and lymph are organized from the protoplasm, the remaining
albumen is absolutely unchanged and ready to furnish material for the
growth of either.

It is the function of salts to increase the electrical tension of the
lymph. All salts possess the property of being electrically positive or
negative. The more concentrated a saline solution, the greater its
electrical energy.

That the function of the lymph is to assist in the formation and
nutrition of the nerves is apparent when the na