The nerves and the nervous

Front matter

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Preface

It is now over twenty-five years since I commenced, by public lectures, and by books, to popularize the study of human anatomy and physiology. The success which has attended my efforts has been far greater than ever I anticipated. Had I time, I could lecture constantly, to crowded audiences, so great and growing is the desire for knowledge on these subjects ; but my professional engagements no longer allow me sufficient leisure. The circulation of my books has been unexampled, and is steadily maintained year after year, as will be seen in the detailed account of them at the end of this volume.

Hitherto these books have been exclusively upon marriage, and the natural relations of the sexes to each other, as these were the subjects upon which information seemed most needed, and most difficult to get. I have, however, been constantly requested to write a book on the nervous system, and its diseases, similar in character and purpose to the others. Such a book I have therefore finally determined to publish, after writing, and re-writing it many times over. The publication has been delayed year after year, from a desire to first see the result of some most important investigations, and experiments, on the nervous system ; and also because I desired to first have full experience of my own, I* t«0

6 PREFACE.

on all the important matters treated upon. As it now stands, I believe it gives a faithful and true account of what is known, at the present day, on the nervous system and its derangements, with all the new views and discoveries in full. The cases given, both from my own practice and that of others, are all selected, with a view to illustrate the various special topics treated upon, and to make the explanations more clear.

The style of this book, like that of all the others, is popular, so that all can understand it, but at the same time it is strictly accurate and scientific ! The object has been to make it both instructive, and practically useful, so that ihe student and the nervous sufferer can both derive advantage from its perusal. The time has gone by for such knowledge to be thought dangerous, or useless, except to professional men ; and society at large begins to recognize the fact, from dearbought experience, that popular ignorance, upon such matters, is a fruitful source of many and serious evils. Human beings are able to live rationally, so as to avoid suffering and disease, just in proportion as they understand themselves, and their relations to the material world in which they exist.

Perhaps on no other subject has there been so much popular ignorance, and misapprehension, as upon the 'nervous system and its functions ; and the consequences of that ignorance have been many of the worst evils that afflict humanity.

In giving the necessary explanations, it has been unavoidable that many old and revered opinions, and beliefs, should be totally dissented from. The progress of modern science makes these opinions and beliefs, now, untenable, and it is

PKEFACE. • 7

both vain and useless to try and make them agree with obvious and opposing facts. — Especially it has been requisite to show that mind, in its broadest sense, is entirely a result of organic action, and is totally-dependent, as far as we know, upon* the existence and proper action of the brain. Whatever belief any one may entertain we have no knowledge of mind except in this waj^. Nor does it seem likely that we ever can have ! No one, however, is justified in saying there is not, or cannot be, such a thing as mind, spirit, or soul, distinct from matter, merely because it cannot be explained, or comprehended.

There may be many things of which we are in ignorance, simply because we have not the capacity to understand them. It must be admitted, however, that at present at least, the separate and independent existence of mind is a matter only of belief, and not of knowledge ! Nay, farther, — it is of no use shirking the fact, — all the knowle dge we posess, upon the subject, seems utterly to disprove the separate and independent existence of mind ; and this is fully admitted by many who still continue to believe, even in direct opposition to what they know.

The truth is that knowledge and belief have no necessary association ; nor should they be expected to agree with or confirm one another. Belief is an individual matter, but knowledge concerns all, and should be sought for, and disseminated, regardless of all belief or opinion whatever.

This explanation is made here so that the reader may be prepared for what follows, and may see, from the start, that the object of this book is to state facts only ! — As a celebrated modern writer well observes, it should be universally known that for every fact of mind, there is a corresponding fact of

8 PREFACE.

matter, and the two, so far as we know, always go together. We are not justified in saying that they can, or cannot exist separately, because we do not know — no matter what we believe! — It is best therefore, tp leave belief alone, -and devote all our efforts to extending knowledge, of which we can never have too much.

Dr. F. Hollick.

Organs and Functions — General Description of the Human Body— The Nerves and Nervous Centres. . . 23-29

Chapter II

The Structure of the Different Parts of the Nervous System, and Nature of the Nervous Substance — Structure of the Nervous Apparatus — The Nervous Matter or Substance — The Ganglionic Globules or Vesicles — The Way the Nerves Terminate — Chemical Composition of the Nervous Substance 30-43

Chapter III

Nutrition of the Nervous System — Probable Nature of the Nervous Power, and the Way it Acts — Blood-vessels of the Nervous System — Origin of the Nervous Tissue — Regeneration of the Nervous Tissue — The Nervous Circle — Nerves of Feeling, or Sensation, and Nerves of Motion — Reflex Nervous Action — Velocity of Nervous Impressions — Specific Nervous Centres — The Special Senses — Similarity of the Nervous to the Electric Power— Spontaneous Nervous Action. . 44-56

Chapter IV

Dependence of the Nervous Power upon Chemical Action — Necessity for Sleep, or Rest — The Nervous Power and the Blood — Chemical Action the Source of Nervous Power — Correspondence between Mental Work and Heat — Necessity of Rest to the 'Nervous System — Mental Work and Bodily Work Compared 57-68

Functions of the Cerebellum — Structure and Connections of the Cerebellum — Experiments on the Cerebellum — The Cerebellum and the Sexual Instinct 175-179

CHAPTER XVI. Functions of the Cerebrum — Structure of the Cerebrum

— Connecting Fibres of the Brain — Weight and Size of the Brain — Circulation of Blood in the Brain — The Cerebrn.ni the Organ of Intellect — Size of Brain as a Measure of Mental Power — The Brain of Man Compared with that of the Lower Animals — Experiments on the Cerebrum — Effects of Disease of the Cerebrum — Mind is Dependent upon the Senses — Consciousness — Emotions 180-199

Chapter XVII

On the Different Kinds of Diseases Connected with the Nervous System 200-201

Chapter XVIII

Functional Diseases of the Nervous System, or Nervous Diseases — Epilepsy — Hysteria — Catalepsy — Chorea, or St. Vitus' Dance — Mania, or Madness — Hallucinations and Delusions — Erotomania, or Love Madness — Satyriasis and Nymphomania — Drink Mania, Dipsomania, or Ooinomania — Homicidal Mania — Kleptomania, or Propensity to Steal — Affections of the Memory — Aphasia — Angoraphobia 202-241

Anaesthesia and Hypnotism 292-294

Chapter XXIII

The Nervous and Sexual Systems — Connexion between the Brain and the Sexual Organs — Influence of the Nervous Condition of the Parents, at the Moment of Conception, over the Nervous System of the Child ......

295-299 CHAPTER XXIV.

Influence of Mind upon Mind— Pscy chic Force. 300-303

Connection between the Nervous Power and Light, Heat,

Motion, and Electricity — The Philosophy of Hobbies — Philosophy of Rest 318-335

Chapter XXVIII

Remarks on the Nutrition' of the Body, and on the Source of the Secretions — The Blood not the only Source of New Material — The Secretions not all Derived Directly from the Blood — Chemical Change the True Cause of Life, both Bodily and Mental— Health, What is it ? ... .

330-343

The Nervous Influence in Medication — Neuropathy — Mental, Emotional, and Electric Medication. . . 352-358

Chapter XXXII

Wonderful Power of some Agents, and Rapidity of their Action — Peculiar Gases of the Body — Wonderful Changes which occur in the Human Body — All Substances Act, Chemically, either in the Fluid or Gaseous

States Only — Chemical Changes cause Changes of Temperature, and of Electrical Condition — Homoeopathy.. .

359-366

Chapter XXXIII

Inflammation and Congestion of the Brain — Congestion from Bad Quality of Blood — Congestion of the Brain arising from Want of Blood — Apoplexy — Extravasation of Blood in the Head — Inflammation of the Brain aod its Membranes — Chronic Inflammation of the Brain — Congestion of the Brain — Delirium Tremens — Hydrocephalus — Paralysis, or Palsy — Headache — Neuralgia — Sciatica — Tetanus, or Lock-Jaw — Hydrophobia — Softening of the Brain — Hardening of the Brain — Tubercles and Tumors, and Other Bodies, in the Brain — Diseases of the Spinal Marrow 369-415 ,

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Plate 1. — Fkontispiece. — The Nervous System. 44 2. — Part of the Sympathetic Nerve of a Mouse,

much Magnified 32

44 3.— Tubular Nerve Fibres 34

44 4. — Various Forms of the Ganglionic Vesicles. . 37 44 5.— The Nerves of Touch, at the end of the

Human Thumb. As they Appear under

the Microscope . 39

44 6. — Human Pacinian Corpuscles 41

44 7. — Looped Capillary Blood-vessels on the Skin

of the Finger 44

44 8. — Net- work of Capillary Blood-vessels of the

Nervous Centre 45

44 9.— The Primitive Trace, Magnified. 72

44 10. — The Primitive Trace at a Later Period ;

Commencement of the Brain 73

44 11.— Different Views of the Spinal Cord 75

44 12.— The Spinal Marrow Cut Across 76

44 13. — The Brain and Spinal Marrow, with the

Nerves proceeding from them 77

Plate 14.

26,

27,

28, 29,

30. 31, 32,

ILLUSTBATIONS.

—Part of the Spinal Cord, Showing the Nerves

proceeding from it 78

—The Medulla Oblongata 86

— The Brain Viewed Sideways 88

—The Top of the Brain 90

— Under Surface, or Base of the Brain 91

—The Brain Cut through the Middle 94

—The Olfactory Nerve 95

.—The Eye and Optic Nerve 98

—The Eye and its Nerves 100

— The Ear and Auditory Nerve 103

.—The Head Cut through the Middle 113

. — The Brain Cut across Horizontally from Ear to Ear, to show the Ventricles, and the Situation of the Hippocampus Major,

and Hippocampus Minor 115

, — Section of the Brain, to show the Situation

of the Pineal Gland and other Parts 117

Connection between the Spinal Nerves and

— The Great Sympathetic in its Whole Length 124 — Portion of the Sympathetic Nerve within

the Chest 125

— Plexuses of the Great Sympathetic Nerve. . 126 — The Pneumogastric Nerve 127

— Plexuses of the Great Sympathetic Nerve in the Abdomen 129

ILLUSTRATIONS. 19

Plate 33.— Brain of a Codfish 140

" 34.— Plexus of Nerves 147

" 35. — Cross Section of the Human Spinal Cord, in

the Lumbar Region 154

" 36.— The Medulla Oblongata Cut Through 159

" 37.— Under View of the Cerebellum, from Behind. 176

NOTICE

Any persons wishing to communicate with Dr. IL by Letters, can address to " Dr. F. Hollick,

Box 3606, Post Office,

New York City, N. Y.» and they will be promptly replied to.

All Letters asking an opinion, or advice, must be full and plain in their descriptions, so that a correct judgment can be formed, and they must always contain the customary fee of Five Dollars, or they cannot be attended to.

N. B. — Persons visiting New York can always find Dr. H.'s office by sending a note to his P. 0. Box.

Part I. Introductory

GENERAL VIEW OF THE HUMAN ORGANIZATION.

) m

OHAPTEE I.

OKGANS AND FUNCTIONS.

General Description of the Human Body.

The human body, like the bodies of other animals generally, is composed of a number of different parts, called organs, each performing a different kind of work or function, for which it is specially adapted.

These organs and functions may be classed under two grand divisions, one of which is solely occupied in preserving the individual's own existence, and the other in perpetuating the species.

In the first of xhese divisions we recognize two different classes of functions, vegetative, called also the organic or vital, and the animal functions.

The vegetative functions in man are analogous to the ordinary functions of plants, and comprise all the processes of nutri'ion, by which the body is nourished. Digestion, assimilation, the circulation of the blood, and breathing, are all stages in the process of nutrition. And just as the plant absorbs the material for its growth and sustenance from the air, water, and soil, so does man asborb them from his food and drink, and from the air he breathes.

The human body, from the moment of its birth, is in a constant state of change— no part remaining long composed of the same material. A special set of organs are constantly occupied in taking up and carrying away the particles of the body that have served their turn ; while the nutritive organs are equally busy in putting new particles in the place of the old ones thus removed.

Both these processes — waste and repair — must go on

24 ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS.

uninterruptedly, or life cannot be maintained. ■ If the old matter is retained too long, the body is poisoned by its own refuse, for the rejected matter becomes truly a poison. If, on the contrary, the process of renewal does not take place as rapidly as that of destruction, the body wastes away.

During growth, renewal is more active than destruction, and, when growth is completed, the two processes, in a state of health, ordinarily balance each other.

The animal functions are superadded to the merely vegetative functions, and this addition distinguishes the animal from the plant. The animal functions consist, essentially, of consciousness, sensation and voluntary motion. Except something like sensation in a few plants, there are no functions like these among vegetables.

Plants, so far as we know, have no consciousness, special sensation, nor voluntary motion ; but animals have, and therefore these functions are called the animal functions.

There is a difference in the character of the organs employed in these two classes of functions which is interesting and important to note. The vegetative organs are all single and irregular in form. Thus there is one stomach, one heart, one liver and one length of intestine. The lungs, though apparently double, are really but one organ, the two dissimilar parts being connected by the bronchial tubes.

The organs that perform the animal functions, on the contrary, are nearly all perfectly double and symmetrical. Thus, there are two brains, two sets of limbs, two eyes, two ears, and so forth. The body can, in fact, be divided into two equal and. similar parts, as far as the organs of animal life are concerned; but it is not so with the organs of vegetative life — they are not double, nor can they be equally divided between the two sides of the body.

The vegetative functions may go on quite independent of the animal functions, though they are much influenced by them. Thus the stomach can digest, the blood can circulate, and all the other auxiliary functions can co-operate with them, though the individual may be quite unconscious, and devoid of feeling or power of mo-

ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS. 25

tion. Children have been born withont brains, and yet have digested food, and lived for a considerable time. In these children, the stimulus of the food, when it was placed at the back of the mouth, caused the muscles of the throat to grasp and swallow it ; and the digestion went on as in other human beings.

Similar cases will be referred to in the course of this work ; but they are brought in here to show that the mere vegetative functions can act independently of the animal functions, although, as will be shown further on, they can be, and usually are, much influenced by them.

The animal functions, on the contrary, are entirely dependent, in one sense, on the vegetative functions ; for if the body be not duly nutrified, so that the organs are kept in perfect condition, they cannot act. If the brain is starved or diseased, there can be no healthy consciousness, or thought ; and if the nerves and muscles are not maintained in a state of perfect vigor, there can be no effective voluntary motion.

In short, the vegetative organs can live without the animal organs, but these cannot live without the vegetative ; or, in 'other words, body may live without mind, but mind cannot exist without body.

It must be observed, however, that mind is still necessary for the preservation of the body, either directly or indirectly ; the animal is not rooted to one spot, like the vegetable, but must either go abroad to seek its food, or have it brought ; so that the child born without a brain must be fed by some other person who has a brain.

All that is meant by what has been stated is that the body, or the vegetative organs, can maintain themselves, if the necessary conditions exist, without the concurrence of the animal organs or functions. The real connection between the two, and their mutual influence, will be shown further on.

The sexual or reproductive organs are not concerned in the maintenance of the individual's own existence, nor are they necessary in any of the functions of vegetative or animal lite, as far as the individual is concerned, although, as will be explained, they exert indirectly a

OKGANS AND FUNCTIONS.

powerful influence on both, and are much influenced by them in return. The essential use of these organs is to produce a new being, to continue the species. They may be said, in one sense, to be both animal and vegetative. The individual can live without reproductive organs, but with an imperfect development.

Every part of the body is thus formed or organized for the purpose of performing some special function, and that function is concerned either in maintaining the individual's own existence or in perpetuating the species.

For convenience, we associate together the different organs that co-operate in one process, and call them a system or apparatus/ Thus the jaws, teeth, tongue and cheeks constitute the masticating or chewing apparatus ; and the stomach, liver, pancreas and other connected parts, constitute the digestive apparatus. In like manner we have the system of the blood-vessels, by which the blood is circulated, and the pulmonary apparatus, by which we breathe, and so on.

The sexual system, or generative apparatus, is solely for the purpose of propagation.

All the different organs of the body co-operate together in the work of maintaining the existence of tho individual and of the species. No part is useless, nor can any important part, of the vegetative system, at least, be dispensed with. Life, or mere vitality, may be continued, in an animal organization, without a brain, but not without a stomach or heart.

Digestion, assimilation, the circulation of the blood, breathing, absorption, secretion, excretion, and all the other vegetative functions, are but steps in the processes of nutrition and change ; each one follows the other and results from it. Arrest one step and you arrest all.

The Nerves and Nervous Centres.

Every part of the body is traversed by certain white cords or threads called the nerves, which are connected with certain great masses of nervous matter called the nervous centres, of which the brain and spinal marrow are the principal ones. The nervous power is produced in these great nervous centres, and- the nervous cords

OBGANS AND FUNCTIONS. 27

convey it to all parts of the body according as it is needed, just as the wires of the telegraph convey the electricity from one place to another. Every organ, in this way, receives the nervous influence, and cannot act without it any more than the engine can move without steam. Cut the nerves which connect any part with the nervous centres, and it at once ceases to act, and loses all feeling and power of motion.

We see, hear, smell, taste, and feel, all by the agency of the nervous power. Take the most perfect eye that ever was formed, sever the nerve which connects it with the brain, and it becomes instantly useless, though just as perfect as before. Destroy the little nervous cords leading to the limbs of a giant, and those limbs at once become powerless, not because the muscles are not as perfect as ever, but simply because he can no longer control them through the nervous influence from the brain.

This primary fact must be thoroughly comprehended before the part which the nervous system plays, in health and disease, can be at all appreciated. It must be distinctly understood that every organ is enabled to act or perform its special function only by the influence of the nervous power, which it receives through a nervous cord from one of the great nervous centres.

This is the use, then, of the nervous system. It is the origin or source of that mysterious power, force, or energy that keeps the body working as a living organization. It controls, influences and directs, and is the essential animal agency.

But, besides being the living stimulus of all the vital organs, the nervous system has certain other functions peculiar to itself. It is the seat of sensation , thought, or mind. The brain, the great nervous centre, elaborates thought, just as the stomach secretes gastric juice, or as the liver secretes bile. Without a stomach sufficiently perfect in action, we cannot digest food; and without a brain in a 'sufficiently perfect condition, we cannot think.

Every animal, from the highest to the lowest, has some form of a nervous system, through which it moves, feels and lives.

'28 ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS.

In the simply formed animals, with few organs, the nervous system is simple also, and it becomes more complicated and perfect just in proportion as the being rises in the scale of organization. But even the animalcule, which we have to magnify hundreds of times before we can see it, possesses a nervous system, as perfect, for its simple organization, as that of the human body.

Some physiologists, indeed, have contended that the nervous power is not essential to all bodily action, but that some of the vegetative functions, at least, may be, to a certain extent, originated without it. The organs of these functions, it is said, will always act under the influence of proper stimuli, independent of any nervous influence. Thus, when food is placed in the empty stomach, it causes it at once to secrete the gastric juice, and so begins the process of digestion. And, in like manner, the presence of blood in the heart causes it to contract ; and so on with many other processes.

In all such cases, however, the nervous power is probably still the primary force, only it acts indirectly. The impression caused by the food is, probably, first made upon the nerves of the stomach, and by them is conveyed to the proper nervous centre, from which comes back the power which causes the gastric juice to be secreted. The blood also, probably, causes nervous action upon the heart in the same way.

This explanation will, it is hoped, make sufficiently clear the nature and uses of the nervous system, and its connection with the other parts of the body. It will be necessary now to describe the nervous apparatus itself, and to explain its structure and mode of action as far as understood.

It has never been shown, conclusively, that any of the vegetative organs can act, to the slightest extent, when entirely cut off from all nervous influence. At the same time, it is well known how powerfully that influence acts upon them all, both directly and indirectly, and how intimately they sympathize with each other, and with the rest of the system, by means of a special set of nerves called the sympathetic.

All the animal functions — consciousness, sensation, and voluntary motion, for instance, are obviously

ORGANS AND FUNCTIONS. 29

caused, directly and entirely, by nervous influence alone.

Practically, therefore, we may say, that the nervous force is what keeps up the action of the whole system, animal and vegetative, as the steam keeps up the action of the engine ; and it is, therefore, very important to know the nature of this force, how it originates, and the way in which it acts upon every part of the system, and in all circumstances.

In some of the lowest organizations there are no special parts which perform the nervous functions only, nor, indeed, any other ; but every part is alike, and performs equally every function essential to the animal's life. Thus every part can act as nerve, muscle or stom- .acb, indifferently. But, in the higher animals, the principle of differentiation comes into play, and we find various parts or organs, each one performing a different function, one for which alone it is adapted. Hence arises the classification of organs already given. It is probable that, in the lower organizations, the nervous matter is disseminated through the whole substance of the body, so that it is not to be distinguished separately ; while, in the higher organizations, as in man, it is simply aggregated into the nervous cords, and the ganglionic centres, constituting the nervous system. In other words, it is differentiated, and constitutes an apparatus by itself, the structure and mode of action of which will now be described.

o*

CHAPTER II.

THE STRUCTURE OF THE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND NATURE OF THE NERVOUS SUBSTANCE.

Structure of the Nervous Apparatus.

On examining the nervous system we find that its substance is arranged in two different forms, or structures, connected with each other.

First, we have certain large masses of nerve substance, of different forms, called the nervous centres. These are the brain, contained in the skull ; the spinal marrow, contained in the spine or b sckbone, and certain roundish masses of nerve matter, found in different parts of the body, called the ganglions.

Secondly, we find certain cords or threads of nervous matter of various sizes and lengths. These are commonly called the nerves, and they connect the nervous centres with each other, and with every other part of the body.

The nervous cords ultimately ramify and divide into branches and branchlets, so numerous and so fine, that it is impossible to trace them any further. They penetrate everywhere, and no part of the body, however minute, is without them. The point of the finest needle, as is well known, cannot be applied to any part of the body without being felt, which shows that it has touched a nerve. No change can take place in any part of the body but some sensation informs us of the fact. By its nervous connections the brain is informed of all the bodily wants, and at once originates, also through the nerves, the necessary actions to supply these wants. (30)

In short, if all the rest of the body were taken away, and the nervous substance alone left, it would make up the bodily form by itself.

The great central nerve masses are found only in certain parts, but the nervous threads reach everywhere, so that by means of them all parts are connected with the centres.

In the frontispiece plate it will be readily seen how the nerves are connected with the spinal marrow, which is contained in the backbone, and run from thence all over the trunk and limbs, branching out, and becoming smaller the further they go. They ramify to the extremity of the toes, as they do to the extremities of the fingers, and to every internal part ; in short, they go everywhere.

The upper part of the spinal marrow, it will be seen, joins the lower part of the brain, so that these two great nervous centres are directly connected.

The nerves from the brain, and the ganglionic nerves, will be shown further on.

The use of the nervous centres, the brain, spinal marrow, and ganglions, appears to be that of manufactories, or magazines, of the nervous power. The use of the nervous threads or cords is simply to convey this power where it is wanted, and to connect the centres with each other.

To give an illustration — the nervous centre is a battery which engenders the galvanic current, and the nerves are the wires which conduct it where it may be wanted.

As already explained, if the connection between any limb and the nervous centre be broken, by cutting through the nerves that conuect them, that limb immediately loses all power of motion and feeling. If it be a vital organ, as the heart, for instance, it can no longer perform perfectly its peculiar function of propelling the blood, but either ceases to beat altogether, or does so imperfectly.

Now, this is strictly analogous to what occurs with the magnetic telegraph connecting two cities. The batteries and recording apparatus may be perfect, in both places, but if the connecting wire be cut they can no longer communicate with each other. The current must