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Neuropathology, like its sister subject, general pathology, often suffers from the misconception that its field is limited to the histopathologic changes observed with the microscope, and while this is one of its functions and a very important one, it by no means covers the field. In the broader view, it must include the histopathology of the nervous structures, but to permit of interpretation of the results of structural defects and destructive lesions in the brain and cord it must also take cognizance of their anatomic locus, their physiologic action and their phylogenetic relations.
Evolution has developed in the human nervous system receptive mechanisms attuned to respond selectively to restricted groups of physical stimuli, and we are naturally inclined to classify our environment according to these somewhat limited sensory capacities: vision, audition, etc. This anthropomorphic view, however, does not accord with our physical knowledge of the forms of energy available as