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"THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VESICULÆ SEMINALES."
914
" SHOULD EPILEPTICS MARRY ?" To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-Mr. Thistle asks how hereditary character can originate except by the influence of the environment ; he appears, in fact, to think that all new characters are necessarily acquisitions-that they are impressed upon the
organism after it has started on its vital career. Mr. Thistle an important source of new characters-i.e., sexual reproduction. This necessitates a double parentage ; and the two parents being unlike the offspring are not exactly like one or the other, there is a mixture of hereditary tendencies which results in the development in the offspring of new characters. The offspring of a single parent are said to be exactly alike-i.e., natural variations are not found among overlooks
them. Hence Weismann believes that the great purpose of sexual reproduction is to afford variations on which "natural selection" may operate. Now, Sirs, special disease tendencies (the tendency to epilepsy and insanity, for instance) are natural variations, and I see no reason why they should not originate, as strictly physiological variations may do, in sexual reproduction. In regard to the inheritability of mutilation, we shall be wise to accept the dictum of so eminent a biologist as Professor Ray Lankester-namely, that there is no evidence of it. All supposed instances to the contrary have, as he tells us, broken down upon careful examination. Circumcision Qarried on for many centuries among the Jews has produced no inherited effect, nor has the docking of horses. Hereditary baldness suggests the wearing of hats by successive generations as its cause. A man does not, however, become bald because his forefathers have worn hard - rimmed hats, but because he inherits a scalp which is very susceptible to the strangulating influence on the scalp-vessels of a hard rim. Men with fine hair go bald, those with coarse hair do not, and these peculiarities are manifestly independent of ancestral custom in the matter of headgear. It is not even certain that the proclivity to such a disease as gout is the result of ancestral indulgences. A man may be prone to gout even though none of his ancestors have led a gout-inducing life. The proclivity to this disease may result from a condition of tissue which is perfectly normal in itself, but one which renders the organism incapable of working healthily under a specific environment. Similarly the inherited incapacity to resist the tubercle bacillus may arise quite independently of any ancestor having been exposed to the conditions which induce tuberculosis. A negro whose ancestors for hundreds of generations may not have suffered from this disease shows Here the a strong tendency to it when he comes to Europe. inherited proneness (for in this case the proneness is inherited) is manifestly independent of a pathogenic ancestral environment, and it is possible that this line of argument applies to most, if not all, diseases which run in families. I quite agree with Dr. Adam’s observations. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, HARRY CAMPBELL. Devonshire-street, W., March 21st, 1897.
am not prepared either to affirm or deny,. It is not improbable that a few may be found in it, yet, if "a few swallows do not make a spring," it is equally as evident that the presence of a small number of spermatozoa does not per se constitute it seminal fluid, especially when we remember that spermatozoa are capable by their own inherent vitality of finding their way from the vagina through the uterus into the Fallopian tubes. I am afraid that I must agree to differ from him as to the existence of unscrupulous quacks within the profession and also that the bulk of patients with these symptoms are ’° multitudes of young men." For my own part I think that. men well past the middle age constitute the great majority. The few young men who come complaining of thesedischarges are cases in which hypertrophic enlargement of the prostate has been brought about by excessive venery or self abuse. I do not consider that these cases come I fail also at all under the head of spermatorrhoea. to see any analogy between seminal discharges and menstrua-
spermatozoa I
tion,
or between "spermatorrhoea" and "menorrhagia." Although the excessive discharge of semen in spermatorrhoea. and of catamenial fluid in menorrhagia are both prejudicial to health and of undoubted gravity, yet here the analogy ceases. For in menorrhagia we have an increase in theamount lost at each menstrual epoch, but no increase in thefrequency of such periods, while in spermatorrhoea the reverse. is noticed. May I venture to question the association of ideas which leads Professor Campbell Black to postulate -a: In this case a nerve impulse is conveyed to the brain from "
the engorged vesiculæ seminales " ? I have yet to learn howdistension of a hollow viscus per se can bring about an. expulsion of its contents. I am afraid that any analogy instituted between the vesiculae seminales and the gallbladder or urinary bladder will not bear out his assertion. The presence of food in the duodenum originates the nerve impulses that influence the contraction of the gallbladder on its contents. The irritation of the sensory nerve. around the neck of the urinary bladder starts. the nerve impulses which lead on to micturition. I must. confess my ignorance of the distribution of any sensory nervefibres passing to the vesiculæ seminales, and trust Professor Campbell Black will demonstrate their existence. I believe the idea popularly accepted will bear me out when I ptacethe centre for controlling the discharge of semen in the spinal cord close to the centres of defecation and micturition. Afferent nerve impulses are conveyed to this centre from the’ brain under the influence of mental emotions-as fright or lascivious ideas and sights; but the more general origin, of seminal ejaculations arises from irritation in the neighbourhood of the glans penis, the urethra, or the prostate. Irritation of the glans penis takes place in coitus; by the retention of secretions under the prepuce, as in phimosis; in balanitis, and sometimes by thread-worms. Urethral irritation is due to the presence of acrid acid discharges, as in sufferers from gonorrhoea, gleet, lithuria, and diabetes, or due to urethral ulcers, polypi, or irritable strictures. The prostate is irritated by a loaded condition of the bowels, by thread-worms, by piles, by stones in the bladder. -These are the usual afferent nerve impulses which lead to seminal discharges and serve to explain those cases. "THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VESICULÆ of night losses where no mental picture arises and where SEMINALES." perception of results is deferred till the morning. With To the Editors of THE LANCET. apologies for the length of my letter, I remain, Sirs, yours faithfully, SIRS,—If I read aright Professor Campbell Black’s letter CLARENCE A. WEIGHT. WRIGHT. March Rochester, 15th, 1897. under the above title in THE LANCET of March 13th it would sole that his to John Hunter’s objection appear accepting and Mr. Heath’s views as to the prostatic origin of the A MEDICAL SKIAGRAPH SOCIETY. urethral discharges voided at stool with the last drops of urine is that some examinations, microscopical and chemical, To the Editors of THE LANCET. made by him of urine have enabled him to demonstrate the has been decided to form a Skiagraphical Medical SIRS,—It existence of a certain number of spermatozoa. In the hope A Society. preliminary in meeting with that purpose in view that it may perhaps be of service determining the exact pathological significance of the symptom under took place on Thursday last at 20, King William-street, discussion, may I venture to suggest that when next a London, when the chair was taken by Mr. Sydney Rowland. Among those who are actively supporting the movement case of this nature presents itself less attention be directed to the clinical examination of the urine and more given are Dr. Macintyre (Glasgow), Mr. C. W. Mansell Moullin, Any gentlemen to a physical examination of the patient, not omitting Dr. Low, and Dr. Norris Wolfenden. join will oblige by communicating with me. a rectal examination. Any such examination would have wishing to I am, Sirs, yours truly, demonstrated to his own satisfaction that these discharges DAVID WALSH, M.D. Edin., Hon. Sec., are prostatic in origin, as a little gentle pressure on the 5, London, E.C., March 22nd, 1897. Pump-court, Temple, result in the with will the ejectprostate examining digit ment of the fluid alluded to. It would also have satisfied P.S.-A meeting of the proposed society will take place at him that the pathological condition present was an enlarged 5 e M. on Frid.av next. April 2nd, at the offices of the Defence Union, 20, King William-stieet, Strand, W.C. and irritable prostate. That the fluid so ejected does contain
terminals
Medical
" SHOULD EPILEPTICS MARRY ?" To the Editors of THE LANCET. SIRS,-Mr. Thistle asks how hereditary character can originate except by the influence of the environment ; he appears, in fact, to think that all new characters are necessarily acquisitions-that they are impressed upon the
organism after it has started on its vital career. Mr. Thistle an important source of new characters-i.e., sexual reproduction. This necessitates a double parentage ; and the two parents being unlike the offspring are not exactly like one or the other, there is a mixture of hereditary tendencies which results in the development in the offspring of new characters. The offspring of a single parent are said to be exactly alike-i.e., natural variations are not found among overlooks
them. Hence Weismann believes that the great purpose of sexual reproduction is to afford variations on which "natural selection" may operate. Now, Sirs, special disease tendencies (the tendency to epilepsy and insanity, for instance) are natural variations, and I see no reason why they should not originate, as strictly physiological variations may do, in sexual reproduction. In regard to the inheritability of mutilation, we shall be wise to accept the dictum of so eminent a biologist as Professor Ray Lankester-namely, that there is no evidence of it. All supposed instances to the contrary have, as he tells us, broken down upon careful examination. Circumcision Qarried on for many centuries among the Jews has produced no inherited effect, nor has the docking of horses. Hereditary baldness suggests the wearing of hats by successive generations as its cause. A man does not, however, become bald because his forefathers have worn hard - rimmed hats, but because he inherits a scalp which is very susceptible to the strangulating influence on the scalp-vessels of a hard rim. Men with fine hair go bald, those with coarse hair do not, and these peculiarities are manifestly independent of ancestral custom in the matter of headgear. It is not even certain that the proclivity to such a disease as gout is the result of ancestral indulgences. A man may be prone to gout even though none of his ancestors have led a gout-inducing life. The proclivity to this disease may result from a condition of tissue which is perfectly normal in itself, but one which renders the organism incapable of working healthily under a specific environment. Similarly the inherited incapacity to resist the tubercle bacillus may arise quite independently of any ancestor having been exposed to the conditions which induce tuberculosis. A negro whose ancestors for hundreds of generations may not have suffered from this disease shows Here the a strong tendency to it when he comes to Europe. inherited proneness (for in this case the proneness is inherited) is manifestly independent of a pathogenic ancestral environment, and it is possible that this line of argument applies to most, if not all, diseases which run in families. I quite agree with Dr. Adam’s observations. I am, Sirs, yours faithfully, HARRY CAMPBELL. Devonshire-street, W., March 21st, 1897.
am not prepared either to affirm or deny,. It is not improbable that a few may be found in it, yet, if "a few swallows do not make a spring," it is equally as evident that the presence of a small number of spermatozoa does not per se constitute it seminal fluid, especially when we remember that spermatozoa are capable by their own inherent vitality of finding their way from the vagina through the uterus into the Fallopian tubes. I am afraid that I must agree to differ from him as to the existence of unscrupulous quacks within the profession and also that the bulk of patients with these symptoms are ’° multitudes of young men." For my own part I think that. men well past the middle age constitute the great majority. The few young men who come complaining of thesedischarges are cases in which hypertrophic enlargement of the prostate has been brought about by excessive venery or self abuse. I do not consider that these cases come I fail also at all under the head of spermatorrhoea. to see any analogy between seminal discharges and menstrua-
spermatozoa I
tion,
or between "spermatorrhoea" and "menorrhagia." Although the excessive discharge of semen in spermatorrhoea. and of catamenial fluid in menorrhagia are both prejudicial to health and of undoubted gravity, yet here the analogy ceases. For in menorrhagia we have an increase in theamount lost at each menstrual epoch, but no increase in thefrequency of such periods, while in spermatorrhoea the reverse. is noticed. May I venture to question the association of ideas which leads Professor Campbell Black to postulate -a: In this case a nerve impulse is conveyed to the brain from "
the engorged vesiculæ seminales " ? I have yet to learn howdistension of a hollow viscus per se can bring about an. expulsion of its contents. I am afraid that any analogy instituted between the vesiculae seminales and the gallbladder or urinary bladder will not bear out his assertion. The presence of food in the duodenum originates the nerve impulses that influence the contraction of the gallbladder on its contents. The irritation of the sensory nerve. around the neck of the urinary bladder starts. the nerve impulses which lead on to micturition. I must. confess my ignorance of the distribution of any sensory nervefibres passing to the vesiculæ seminales, and trust Professor Campbell Black will demonstrate their existence. I believe the idea popularly accepted will bear me out when I ptacethe centre for controlling the discharge of semen in the spinal cord close to the centres of defecation and micturition. Afferent nerve impulses are conveyed to this centre from the’ brain under the influence of mental emotions-as fright or lascivious ideas and sights; but the more general origin, of seminal ejaculations arises from irritation in the neighbourhood of the glans penis, the urethra, or the prostate. Irritation of the glans penis takes place in coitus; by the retention of secretions under the prepuce, as in phimosis; in balanitis, and sometimes by thread-worms. Urethral irritation is due to the presence of acrid acid discharges, as in sufferers from gonorrhoea, gleet, lithuria, and diabetes, or due to urethral ulcers, polypi, or irritable strictures. The prostate is irritated by a loaded condition of the bowels, by thread-worms, by piles, by stones in the bladder. -These are the usual afferent nerve impulses which lead to seminal discharges and serve to explain those cases. "THE PHYSIOLOGY OF THE VESICULÆ of night losses where no mental picture arises and where SEMINALES." perception of results is deferred till the morning. With To the Editors of THE LANCET. apologies for the length of my letter, I remain, Sirs, yours faithfully, SIRS,—If I read aright Professor Campbell Black’s letter CLARENCE A. WEIGHT. WRIGHT. March Rochester, 15th, 1897. under the above title in THE LANCET of March 13th it would sole that his to John Hunter’s objection appear accepting and Mr. Heath’s views as to the prostatic origin of the A MEDICAL SKIAGRAPH SOCIETY. urethral discharges voided at stool with the last drops of urine is that some examinations, microscopical and chemical, To the Editors of THE LANCET. made by him of urine have enabled him to demonstrate the has been decided to form a Skiagraphical Medical SIRS,—It existence of a certain number of spermatozoa. In the hope A Society. preliminary in meeting with that purpose in view that it may perhaps be of service determining the exact pathological significance of the symptom under took place on Thursday last at 20, King William-street, discussion, may I venture to suggest that when next a London, when the chair was taken by Mr. Sydney Rowland. Among those who are actively supporting the movement case of this nature presents itself less attention be directed to the clinical examination of the urine and more given are Dr. Macintyre (Glasgow), Mr. C. W. Mansell Moullin, Any gentlemen to a physical examination of the patient, not omitting Dr. Low, and Dr. Norris Wolfenden. join will oblige by communicating with me. a rectal examination. Any such examination would have wishing to I am, Sirs, yours truly, demonstrated to his own satisfaction that these discharges DAVID WALSH, M.D. Edin., Hon. Sec., are prostatic in origin, as a little gentle pressure on the 5, London, E.C., March 22nd, 1897. Pump-court, Temple, result in the with will the ejectprostate examining digit ment of the fluid alluded to. It would also have satisfied P.S.-A meeting of the proposed society will take place at him that the pathological condition present was an enlarged 5 e M. on Frid.av next. April 2nd, at the offices of the Defence Union, 20, King William-stieet, Strand, W.C. and irritable prostate. That the fluid so ejected does contain
terminals
Medical