Electro-physiology : scientific, popular, and practical treatise on the prevention, causes, and cure of disease; or, electricity as a currative agent, supported by theory and fact

Front matter

I

YALE MEDICAL LIBRARY

in memory of

CHAPTER I . ©f the Bones

Description of Spinal Column— Unites the Nerves of Intellect and Sensation — Injuries of Spino and Drain more frequent in Mature Age than in Youth —Cause— Elasticity of the Spinal Column— Misshapen and Crooked Spines —How produced— Sternum, or Breast Bone — True Ribs— Floating Ribs— The Humerus, or Upper Arm— How attached to the Scapula, or Blade Bono— The Pelvis— Description of. 21

Chapter II

fH useless.

Symmetry of Form dependent on Muscular Development— Five 1 1 und red and Twenty-seven Muscles— Various Kinds of Muscle— How shaped— Attachment between the Tendons and Bones — Muscles formed in Layers— Voluntary and Involuntary Muscles — Front View of the Muscles — Description — Rupture of the Achilles Tendon in Dancing — Difficulty of Reunion. 28

Chapter III

fHuselcs Continued.

Importance ol r .he Muscular System — The Vital Stream dependent upon its Contractions — The Arts would perish if Animal Organization were deprived of Muscularity — Muscular Tissue — Muscles of Organic Life — Of Animal Life — The latter termed Striped Muscles — Difference between the Muscles of Animal and Organic Life— Shortening of Muscle when it con-

VU1 CONTENTS.

tracts— Animal Heat generated by Muscular Contraction — Sound produced by the Contraction of a Muscle— The Power of Muscles to contract dependent upon Two Influences— Influence of the Nerves on Muscular Coutractility— The Great Importance of Muscular Agency— The best Singer, or Elocutionist — Necessity of Using the Vocal Muscles— Essential Characteristic of Muscular Fibres— Voluntary Muscles dependent for their Action upon the Nerves of the Brain— Involuntary Muscles supplied with Nerves from the Spinal Marrow— Voluntary Muscles dependent for their Contractility upon the Mind— Graceful Movement arises from a well-balanced Connection— The Ravels— Ole Bull— Jenny Lind— Madame Sontag— la the Exercise of the Voluntary Muscles the Rapidity of their Contractions has scarcely a Maximum— The Hare— Carrier Pigeon— Race Horse— Uniformity between the Muscular and Nervous Systems essential to the Perfection and Endurance of Power — A sound and regular Muscular Contraction necessary to Digestion— Few, if any, Muscular Actions are Single— All Muscular Tissue retains its Power of Contractility for a short time after Death— Antoine Le Blanc, the Murderer of the Sayre Family, at Morristown— A Convict executed at Glasgow. 47

Chapter IV

Daring and Superhuman Feats of Activity— Appalling Scenes produced by the Freaks of Fashion— Belgian Ginut^Chincse Porters— Turkish Carriers— The Functions of Organic Life— There is not a Solitary Function, fee- Practice makes Perfect— Mental and Physical Powers connected— Pinel— Aristocratic Grandees of Spain in its Insane Institutions— Organic Power and Action— The Gastrocnemius Muscle— The Boatman— The Clerk— The Copper or Blacksmith-Baneful Effects of Muscular Inactivity— Sedentary, inactive Individuals become fat-Supposed to betoken Health-Supposition erroneous-How the Fat is produced-The Muscles of such Persons-A Limit in the Full Attainment of Growth and Power in a Muscle-Amount of Exercise necessary to insure vigorous Muscular Contractility varies in different Individuals-The Effects of Over-exertion on the Animal Creation -The Horse-Irish Emigrants-Alcoholic Liquors-Beautiful Uniformity between the Laws of the Animate and Inanimate Worlds-Necessity of obeying the former, absolute-The wild Enthusiasts of Hindostan-Moro fcrmhar Examples in our Seminaries of Learning-Teachers in Public and mvate Schools-Ward Schools progressing in Physical Education- Yet Infants in the Elementary Knowledge-Scale graduating Seats and Desks- Mr. Paton-Fixed Position of the Muscles in Children-The System which prevails in our Schools-Physical Education-Greatest Luminaries of Intellect-Restlessness of Children-The Seats or Benches in Schools-If a stooping Attitude be Maintained-By a similar Attitude the Seamstress, &c - The Treble Curvature 18

CONTENTS. IS

Chapter V

Ribs united by Cartilages— Effects of Undue Pressure by Tight Lacing, deeper verted Taste — All Organic Diseases accelerated by Pressure on the Chest — A Wise Law of our Physical Condition— Muscularity essential to Animated Nature— The Colt— Severe Labor should not be imposed on Youth— The Development of the Physical System— Skin heated by violent Muscular Exertion — Sources of Diseased Spine— Boarding Schools — Healthy Blood — Excess of Carbonic Acid Gas— Carbon the Base of Charcoal— Plants at Night— Action of Impure Air on Muscular System — Tailors, Milliners, and Dress Makers — Twenty-four per cent, of Deaths caused by Impure Air — Light of the Sun— Statistics from Russia — An Impure Atmosphere when Heated — Humanity's Claims on our Public Municipal Authorities— Too much Attention cannot be paid to the Spine in Youth — Scholars, the Indolent and Weak — When the System is in a state of Exhaustion— T/he Muscles of the Spine under such a Condition— Strict Discipline requisi'c in Physics as in Morals— Exercise properly regulated essential to Healthy Muscular Action — Laws, which govern Organic Life not known in our Colleges; if known, not practised — Theological Students— Causes of Bronchitis among our Clergy— The Sculptor 70

CHAPTER VI, ©f the Ncrbouu ^pstcm

A New and deeply-interesting Field of Inquiry— What the Nervous System embraces— Of what it consists — Its Constituent Portions— Composition of the Nervous Tissues — The Vesicular Nervous Substance— The Fibrous Nervous Substance— The Round White Cords— Of the Cranial Nerves— Of the Spinal Nerves — Each of these Nerves arises from the Spinal Marrow bj Two Roots— The Anterior the Motor or Moving Root— The Posterior the Sensitive Root — Segments of the Brain — Three Coverings or Coats of the Brain- Two Hemispheres, Right and Left — Each Hemisphere divided into Three Lobes — The- Anterior Part of the Brain — Situation of the Cerebellum .'md Medulla Oblongata— Anterior Part of the Brain may be sliced off without Pain— Effects of the Removal of the Brain Proper 90

Chapter VII

Experiment of M. Ridlic rand— The Medulla Oblongata the Link which binds ua to Existence — Corpora Pyramidalia —Corpora Olivaria — Restiform Bodies

X CONTENTS.

—Description of the Nerves issuing from the Medulla Oblongata— Their Offices— The Facial the harder portion of the Auditory Nerve— Its Extensive Ramifications — Has been called the Lesser Sympathetic— Was supposed to be the Seat of Tic Doloreux— Supposition erroneous— It may be Paralyzed from various causes— Glosso- Pharyngeal a Branch of the Eighth Pair— Pneumogastric a Second Branch— Spinal Accessory a Third Branch —Case of Paralysis in "King's College," London— Lower Division of the Laryngeal Nerve— Effects of the Division of this Nerve on the Voice-Experiment on a Rabbit to prove the Pneumogastric was endued with some Motor Power— Those affected with Distorted Spines, Scrofula, Club Feet, Gout, or Epilepsy, should not Marry— To abstain from it a solemn Duty to Posterily— Children most liable to these Diseases— The well-educated Physician—Origin of the Spina] Accessory — Muscular Movements of the Passions under its Control— Front View of the Medulla Oblongata— Neck Portion of the Spina! Cord— The Medulla Oblongata the Seat where the Functions of the Mind and Body meet— Other connecting Links in the Nervous System— Connection of Hysterics with the Pneumogastric Nerve — Dance of St. Vitus— Hydrophobia— Dr. Gall's Theory of the Nervous System— Flourin's System— Cerebellum not a Central Point for Sensation— The Brain taken as a whole within the Skull 106

Chapter VIII

Auimal Existence from the Zoophyte to Man — Nerves scattered throughout the Body in the Former — The more Perfect Animals without a Spine — Animals furnished with a Spine — Spinal Marrow superadded — Reptiles, Birds, and Mammalia — Successive Evolution in the Size of the Brain — Weight of the Human Brain compared with that of the Body — South American Apes same relative Proportions — Canary Bird — Goose — Weight and Size not Measures of Intellectual Power — What determines the Intellectual Grade of the Animal — Reptiles and Fishes — Their Nervous System —Have no Sagacity — Their Tenacity of Life— Systems less intimately connected—Next descending Class— Divide a Zoophyte or a Worm — Ages have admitted the Cerebrum to bo the Seat of Intellect — What Observation and Experiment have confirmed — Accumulations of Water in the Brain — Tho Outer Portions of the Convolutions — Perception, Memory, Power of Abstraction, employ the Convolutions — They stand as intervening Messengers —The Cortical Substance of the Brain— Dissection of the Brains of Lunatics—Precocity of Intellect and False Parental Pride. ... 143

Chapter IX

What is this Nervous Force or Power?— The Nerves are not Passive Agents —Tho application of a Poisonous Substance to a Nerve— Contact of a Solid

CONTENTS. XI

Loay— A Wound in the Sole of the Foot— Appalling Convulsions of Epilepsy—Strychnine : its effect on the Spinal Cord— Effects of Opium— Should be very cautiously used in Locked-Jaw— Nervous Polarity and the Cold Douche — Ilydrociauic Acid— Comparison between the Nervous and Galvanic Fluid — The Equalizing of the Electric Union — Absolute Contact between the Metals not essential— Nervous Action from a Centre— Matteucci, a Physiologist of Pisa — Galvani Nobile — Malteucci's Experimenton a Rabbit —The Electric Apparatus supplied by Nature. .... ISO

CHAPTER X. ■Sptnal Xcrbes

The Spinal Cord — Representation of tho Medulla Oblongata — What will be seen by tho Figure — Nerves at the Lower Joints of the Neck— The External Cutaneous Nerve— The Internal Cutaneous Nerve — The Median Nerve — The Ulnar Nerve — The Auricularis Magnus, or Large Ear Nerve — Formation of tho Descending Branches of the Cervical Plexus— The Coraraunicans Noui— Tho Phrenic, or Midriff Nerve— Formation of the Posterior Cervical Plexus— The Dorsal, or Rack Nerves -The Branches between the False Ribs — Branches of the Intercostal — Cutaneous Branch of the Last Dorsal — A Section of the Brain and Spinal Column — Tbe Anterior Branches of the Lumbar Nerves — Tho Posterior Branches— The Muscular Cutaneous — Tho External Cutaneous— The Geni to-Crural— Tbe Femoral, or Thigh Nerve —Sympathetic Nerve— Representation and Description of the Sympathetic —Power of Contractility iu the Coals of the Blood-vessels no longer disputed. . . 158

CHAPTER XL

What is a sine qua non to the Perfect Performance of the Functions of tho Nervous System — What Connection exists between tbe Mind and Brain not the Subject of Inquiry — A Limit to Human Investigation— We know there is a Connection— The Condition on which it raay be maintained— Hereditary Descent — Intermarriages between certain Degrees of Consanguinity — Entailment of Disease by Hereditary Descent— The Command given to the great Hebrew Lawgiver— The Brain should not be Inactive — Pure Blood and Pure Air essential to a Vigorous Action of the Brain — External Agents — Consequences of their Effects being too long exerted— Continued Mental Action at any Period of Life Injurious — Particularly Injurious in Infancy — Tbe Brain should not be Unusually Excited preceding or succeeding a Hearty Meal— The Morning of the Day tbe Proper Period for Meutal Applixii CONTENTS.

cation— Reasons why it is so— Youth requires more Sleep than Age— Children in good Health require at least eight hours' Sleep— Feeble Children a longer Period— Mental Exertion must be controlled by Circumstances— Children whose Systems are not Developed— The Classification in Schools— At times highly Defective— Nature not to be flogged into Mental Exertion- Arrangement of Study essential— Brain should not be compelled to act in Opposition to its Physical Energies— Insanity— The Brain cannot, at one time, serve two Masters — Skull susceptible of Fracture from Slight Causes —Case of the Boy struck by a Teacher in a Western School— His subsequent Death and Post-mortem Examination. ..... 178

CHAPTER XII. Doctrine of 3Uff

Seeds of Plants, Eggs of Fowls— Force in the Egg— Putrefaction — Health — First Condition essential to the Integrity of Vital Action— The Phenomena of Starvation — Effects of protracted Abstinence — Second Condition necessary for the Preservation of Organic Force— The Third Condition- Theory of Combustion — Principal Source of Animal Heat— Quantity of Carbon exhaled from the Lungs in Health per Hour— Clothing an Equivalent for a certain Amount of Food— The Kind and Quantity of Food— The Cooling of the Body — Effects of loud and continued Speaking, Crying of Infants, &c. — Connection of Vital Force and Animal Electricity — Subject of Animal Electrity New— Analysis of Electricity in Man, by Professor Miiller, of Berlin— The Connection between the Human Body, in Health and Disease, and Electricity, will be shown in the next Chapter. . . 190

Chapter XIII

yfjilosoptin onifff.

Philosophy of Life — Differs from the Doctrine of Life — Importance of Health — A peculiar Element in Nature — Life not a Simple — It is this Principle which pervades all Nature— It is not in itself Vitality — Earth, Air, and Water — Atmospheric Elements next in the Scale — Stomach— The Natural Historian — Electricity— Its attractive Force— Mingles with Human Mechanism — Influences of Electricity— Mind — The Brain of Lunatics — The Muscular Power of the Chest — The Functions of the Heart — Allopathy — Hydropathy—Simplicity in the Healing Art— Too much Art and too little Science — Disease must have a Cause— Illustrative Cases, by Dr. Parmly; by the Author. ... 21j

CONTENTS. XUl

Chapter XIV

A Portion of the Functions of Organic Life— Study, Grief, Care— The Mourner at the Grave of his Friend— Dr. Marshall Hall— Experiment with the Leyden Jar— A Dry Atmosphere— A Current of Damp Air— Neuralgia, Tic Doloreux, Rheumatism— Dr. Milne Edwards— Dr. Wilson Philip— Brydone — The Atmospheric Influences of an Equilibrium in Electricity — Sirocco of tho South of Europe — Katusin of Asia— Brydone's Remarks on Electricity, on a Visit to Mount Etna— A Lady in Switzerland— Two Gentlemen of Geneva — The Influences of Electricity upon Respiration — Sir Humphrey Davy— Dr. Philip's Experiment— Mr. Atkinson's Cases of Cholera. 225

Chapter XV

®ptnfons ot Eminent iHcotcal jHcn on Elcctrfcltn, antt Its Effects on Disease.

Dr. Tuson, of London— Tho lato John Abernethy— Professor WlsgriU, of Vienna— Braithwulte's Retrospect — Coses by Eminent Physicians in Europe — Aphonia, or Loss of Voice— Theodore Mandurick— Palsy, by Dr. Neligan — Hemiplegia, or Palsy of One Side, from the Head downwards, by M. Bemond — Paraplegia, or Palsy across the Body, by Dr. Constantino James —Tinnitus Aurium, or Ringing in the Ears, by Dr. Hoering— Dr. Finella on Deafness — Neuralgia, by Magendie — Sciatica, by Dr. E. Hermel— Asthma, Chronic Difficulty of Breathing, Anosmia, or Loss of Smelt, and Amaurosis, by Dr. Wilson Philip — Chorea, (St, Vitus' Dance,) Facial Paralysis, (Palsy of the Face,) by Dr. Goldiug Bird — Tetanus, (Universal Cramp,) by Surgeon Hailey — Rheumatic and Local Palsy, by T. J. Vallance — Constipation, by Dr. W. Curaming — Removal of a Naevus, or Mother's Mark, from a Child, by J. Hilton, Esq., Guy's Hospital— Suspended Animation, Narcotism, Russell and Johnson, King's College Hospital, London — Mr. Corfe, Middlesex Hospital — S. P. James, Esq.— Dr. William Bird— Greenwich Avenue Calamity— Dr. Vanderpool 239

Chapter XVI

Influences of Improper JToou, &c, on ttje Human Snstrm.

Table of the Various Kinds of Food— Various Periods of Time occupied by them in the Digestive Process— Quantity and Quality of Food— Temperament— The Sanguine— The Lymphatic— The Nervous— The Bilious— Time not to be exceeded between Breakfast and Dinner— Fat aud Oily Meats —

XIV CONTENTS.

Excessive Use of Pork— Soups— Pastry, Puddings, &c— Fish, Water— Rest of Body and Mind necessary to Digestion— The Gastric Juice— Dr. Caldwell, of Kentucky— Table containing a Graduated Scale of the Nutrition contained in Various Kinds of Food 274

CHAPTER XVII. Enfluencc of SUcofjoI on the fi^uman System

First Effect of Alcohol on the Mucous Lining of the Stomach — Enters the Veins of the Stomach — Is mixed with the Blood — Post-mortem Examination of Drunkards — What is the Condition of the Blood in Intemperates? — Alcoholic Congestion of the Brain— Nervous System of the Inebriate— The Depression of the Vital Powers— The Tremulous Hand— Effects of Dram-Driuking on the Muscular System — Spontaneous Combustion from Drinking — Many Cases recorded — Is Alcohol a Poison? — Figure of Antiquity — Mr. Fyfe, of Edinburgh — Who were the Principal Victims to the Cholera? — Typhoid Ship Fever— Picture of the Physical Appearance of the Confirmed Drunkard — Murder, Manslaughter, Suicide — Difficulty of applying a Remedy in the Present State of our Laws 283

Chapter XVIII

Pernicious Effect on the Nervous System — Acts directly on the Nerves of the Stomach — Loss of Muscular Power — Case depicting the Effects of Tobacco — Amaurosis (Dimness of Sight) caused by Tobacco — Dr. Chapman on the Effect of Tobacco— Effects of Tobacco Injections— Snuff Plasters for Children — Great Danger in their Use — Tobacco equally Injurious to the Stomach, Heart, Lungs, Brain, and Nervous System generally. . . 309

CHAPTER XIX. MiflttLBt*

Mysterious but Visible Effects of Mind on Matter— Of the Essence of Mind Nothing is Known— The Connection between Mind and Matter established in this Chapter— The Blood the Primary Conductor— Iron one of the Constituents of the Blood— One of the most powerful Conductors of Electricity —Nerves in close Connection with the Arteries— It is from the Brain the Heart and Lungs receive their Motion— Electricity inhaled with the Oxygen that causes the Blood to Circulate— Physiological Evidence of this Fact—

CONTENTS. XV

Medical Profession too apt to look on Proximate Causes— Empiricism exposed—Oxygen and Electricity the only Purifiers of the Blood— The Nerves, and not the Blood, the Primary Seats of Disease— Sudden Anger will produce Apoplexy and Death— Cause— Subjects most likely for Insanity- Cases— Consequences of Unpleasant News on the Mind— The Advocates for the Old Theory of Disease — The Cause, in its diminished Influence, which produces Insanity— Degrees of Pain arising from different States of Electricity —Man but the Reflected Image of Nature— Effects of a sudden Gust of Night Air— Percentage of Electricity in tho Nervous System— Fifty per cent, under Mental Control— Filly per cent, under the Control of the Involuntary Nerves— Sudden Effects on the Brain from Increased Electricity on the Arrival of Alarming News— Cases— Causes— Operations on the Production of Disease having their Origiu in Mental Impressions — Cases— Influence of the Mind over tho Body — Imagination may form the Natural Disposition, cither for Good or Evil— Case related by the late Rev. Dr. Rudd, of Utica — Effects of Imagination on Physical Formation. . . 315

Chapter XX

Mineral Poisons most Distressing— Emetics — Sulphate of Zinc most Rapid in its Operation — Infusions of Slippery Elm— Sal Volatile — Vinegar — Tartar Emetic Wine— Mucilaginous Drinks— Nut Galls anti Oak Bark— Arsenic — Case of Mrs. Wood — Verdigris— Sugar of Lead— Sulphuric Acid its Antidote — Carbonate of Soda— Oxalic Acid — Tho Vegetable Poisons — Opium — Morphia, or Morphine— Stramonium, or Stink Weed — Two Cases of ita Poisonous Effects on Children. . 339