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New Inventíons IN AID OF THE PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.
47 miliary tubercles, and a large patch of crude tubercle on the pleura of the middle lobe of right lung. Upper and middle lobes emphysematous to an extreme degree, the air-vesicles being distended, as well as the interlobular areolar tissue. Spleen full of tubercles of various sizes, and in different stages of growth. Mesenteric glands universally converted into tubercle, but all in the crude stage, though varying in size from a pea to a large nut. The rest of the viscera were healthy. The points that appear most worthy of notice in this case are, first, the fact of tuberculosis being set up in an unweaned child from a temporary indisposition of the mother. Next, the influence of teething in determining
the tuberculosis to the cerebral membranes, and the convulsive character thus impressed upon the cough, so as- to completely assimilate it to pertussis, except in the omission of the whoop; thus proving by analogy the influence of the brain in the production of that disease. Thirdly, the effect of the softening of the brain, and the tubercular inflammation of the membranes at its base, especially the latter, in causing the tetanic spasms of opisthotonos and trismus. Fourthly, the peculiarity of the respiration in this and other cerebral affections, characterized by its irregularity, though with a certain rhythm, a long inspiration being followed by several short inspirations and expirations, and terminating in a long expiration. Lastly, in the disproval this case affords of the incompatibility of emphysema with tuberculosis of the lungs. A paper was read by Dr. R. MORTIMER GLOVER, on
to investigate, often without a direct reference to that in the first instance. Everything that is true generally finds When he, some years ago, called some useful direction. the remarkable physiological properties of attention tothen chloroform, scarcely known, who would have supposed it likely to be in such general use? The discussion which ensued had reference chiefly to the exact nature of the substance denominated by the author, "picrotoxine." In the absence of any definite account of its nature and constituents, it was contended that the experiments were by no means so satisfactory as they would otherwise have been. It was argued, however, on the other side, that the experiments were on every occasion so uniform in respect to their results, that it was clear they must be regarded in the light of valuable additions to our knowledge, though Dr. Glover had omitted to give a detailed account of the substance with which he had experimented. He had. stated also to the secretary, Dr. Cogswell, that the picrotoxine
duty
was prepared by Mr. Morson, a sufficient guarantee of its purity. The discussion afterwards had reference chiefly to the specific effects of the poison, as evidenced by the experiments, but no speaker had had any personal experience in the
matter. Towards the close of the debate, the President, in allusion to the very great increase of nervous diseases of late years, in England, inquired whether the circumstance might in any way be explained by the fact of the staple beverage, beer, being much adulterated by cocculus Indicus, the plant whence picrotoxine was obtained ?&ic rc; Some cautions, also, THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PICROTOXINE. were given by one or two fellows, respecting the use of The author commenced by detailing seven experiments, the ’ tinctureof aconite, a preparation at present having no place animals experimented on, being dogs, a she-ass, a pigeon, a in our pharmacopoeia, as in some instances it acted with very frog, a rabbit, and a gold-fish. The results in each experiment, much morl’ I’nl’rD’V than in ot,hl’rR. and the post-mortem appearances, were alike-namely, retrograde movements; shown in a slight degree by convulsive twitches of the eye, head, neck, and shoulders, backwards, New Inventíons and, in an extreme degree, by a regular forced retrogression, IN AID OF THE salivation, and general tremors, bloody stools, laborious breathing, rapid action of the heart, and opisthotonos. The autopsies revealed total extinction of the muscular irritability, I PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. with great heat of the muscular fibres, the thermometer rising’; to 115 degrees; irritability of heart, more so of the auricles MR. JULIUS JEFFREYS’ Patent Respirators. than of the ventricles, both cavities being distended with black fluid blood; the lungs slightly congested; the stomach WE have received a complete set of these instruments, and intestines showing marks of irritation; great congestion which, beyond all competition, are the most efficient guards of the brain and its membranes, especially the lower portions, the introduction of a chilling atmosphere into the the cerebellum, corpora quadrigemina, and upper part of the against which we have yet seen. These instruments, in air-passages with much serum in the ventricles. The spinal cord, bloody dose of picrotoxine given to the dogs varied from one to two fact, with reference to the objects which they are intended to scruples; to the ass, 100 grains; to the pigeon, four grains; to fulfil, may be pronounced perfect. They really cannot be too the frog, five grains; and to the rabbit, ten grains; five grains highly commended. They are intended to be affixed over the were placed in the water containing the gold-fish, but the mouth or nose, either separately or in conjunction, and are picrotoxine is very insoluble in water. In all these experiments it was either given by the mouth, or inserted under the accordingly named oral, nasal, and orinasal. One is called skin of the axilla or groin. The author next proceeded to the " hand respirator," which is meant for temporary use only, compare the results of his experiments with those made by M. being held unattached over the nose and mouth. This is a Flourens in the removal of various parts of the brain, especially guard which, we think, might be adopted with advantage by of the corpora quadrigeminaandcerebellum. The resemblance, and others, whose duties call them into the prehe remarked, was very striking. To prove this, a quotation was physicians sence of fever patients. The whole series are of the most delimade from Cuvier’s report to the Institute, on Flourens’expericate were drawn the conclusions the author and workmanship, consisting of the finest silver and other metal ments, following by as thelegitimate deductions from the results of his experiments : wire-work, faced with silk or light woollen-cloth, and fastened 1. Picrotoxine has the power of determining peculiar move- round the head by elastic straps, or otherwise by a cord, as ments and effects very similar to those described by M. Flourens as resulting from sections of the cerebellum, and in one of the respirators which is manufactured expressly for perhaps of the corpora quadrigemina. He did not think, the working-classes, and is sold at a very reduced price. however, that the animals in his experiments were blind until The nasal respirator is a droll-looking apparatus, but injust before death, if then, as in the cases where Flourens cut tended chiefly to be worn during sleep, and we learn that, by away the corpora quadrigemina. The iris was certainly in its aid, persons with very irritable air-passages and lungs are some cases contractile, until the symptoms became very enabled to secure the advantages of copious ventilation, by severe, when the pupil was enormously dilated. 2. Picrotoxine also acts powerfully on the spinal cord, and generally not eschewing a large bed-room filled with cold air. Many of is a narcotico-acrid poison. 3. It is not one of those active the benefits to invalids with laryngeal and chest diseases, supso very energetic, that is to say, in such small doses, principles, posed to accrue from theeli mate of Southern Europe, might, we like conia, aconitina, &c., although a most terrible poison. are ready to believe, be secured by the use, during the English 4. The animal temperature was much increased in some of of such respirators as those now before us;—with the winter, these experiments, forming, in this respect, a great contrast with some facts Dr. Glover observed several years ago, showing additional, and inestimable privilege to the patient, of not the great diminution of temperature undergone by animals being driven away from his friends in the fallacious hope of slowly poisoned by the chloride and bromide of olefiant gas, a cure. Mr. Julius Jeffreys, who is a member of our profeschloroform, bromoform, &c. How far the increase of tempe- sion, deserves high credit for his scientific and elegant inven rature was owing to the excitement of the nervous system, he tions. would not decide. The peculiar movements caused by picrotoxine, Dr. Glover thought, were neither reflex nor voluntary, APPOINTMENT.—Mr. Borlase Childs has been elected but should be considered a third kind of motion; and he.stated, to the Metropolitan Free Hospital. with respect to the cui bono of his experiments, that it is our
Surgeon
the tuberculosis to the cerebral membranes, and the convulsive character thus impressed upon the cough, so as- to completely assimilate it to pertussis, except in the omission of the whoop; thus proving by analogy the influence of the brain in the production of that disease. Thirdly, the effect of the softening of the brain, and the tubercular inflammation of the membranes at its base, especially the latter, in causing the tetanic spasms of opisthotonos and trismus. Fourthly, the peculiarity of the respiration in this and other cerebral affections, characterized by its irregularity, though with a certain rhythm, a long inspiration being followed by several short inspirations and expirations, and terminating in a long expiration. Lastly, in the disproval this case affords of the incompatibility of emphysema with tuberculosis of the lungs. A paper was read by Dr. R. MORTIMER GLOVER, on
to investigate, often without a direct reference to that in the first instance. Everything that is true generally finds When he, some years ago, called some useful direction. the remarkable physiological properties of attention tothen chloroform, scarcely known, who would have supposed it likely to be in such general use? The discussion which ensued had reference chiefly to the exact nature of the substance denominated by the author, "picrotoxine." In the absence of any definite account of its nature and constituents, it was contended that the experiments were by no means so satisfactory as they would otherwise have been. It was argued, however, on the other side, that the experiments were on every occasion so uniform in respect to their results, that it was clear they must be regarded in the light of valuable additions to our knowledge, though Dr. Glover had omitted to give a detailed account of the substance with which he had experimented. He had. stated also to the secretary, Dr. Cogswell, that the picrotoxine
duty
was prepared by Mr. Morson, a sufficient guarantee of its purity. The discussion afterwards had reference chiefly to the specific effects of the poison, as evidenced by the experiments, but no speaker had had any personal experience in the
matter. Towards the close of the debate, the President, in allusion to the very great increase of nervous diseases of late years, in England, inquired whether the circumstance might in any way be explained by the fact of the staple beverage, beer, being much adulterated by cocculus Indicus, the plant whence picrotoxine was obtained ?&ic rc; Some cautions, also, THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF PICROTOXINE. were given by one or two fellows, respecting the use of The author commenced by detailing seven experiments, the ’ tinctureof aconite, a preparation at present having no place animals experimented on, being dogs, a she-ass, a pigeon, a in our pharmacopoeia, as in some instances it acted with very frog, a rabbit, and a gold-fish. The results in each experiment, much morl’ I’nl’rD’V than in ot,hl’rR. and the post-mortem appearances, were alike-namely, retrograde movements; shown in a slight degree by convulsive twitches of the eye, head, neck, and shoulders, backwards, New Inventíons and, in an extreme degree, by a regular forced retrogression, IN AID OF THE salivation, and general tremors, bloody stools, laborious breathing, rapid action of the heart, and opisthotonos. The autopsies revealed total extinction of the muscular irritability, I PRACTICE OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY. with great heat of the muscular fibres, the thermometer rising’; to 115 degrees; irritability of heart, more so of the auricles MR. JULIUS JEFFREYS’ Patent Respirators. than of the ventricles, both cavities being distended with black fluid blood; the lungs slightly congested; the stomach WE have received a complete set of these instruments, and intestines showing marks of irritation; great congestion which, beyond all competition, are the most efficient guards of the brain and its membranes, especially the lower portions, the introduction of a chilling atmosphere into the the cerebellum, corpora quadrigemina, and upper part of the against which we have yet seen. These instruments, in air-passages with much serum in the ventricles. The spinal cord, bloody dose of picrotoxine given to the dogs varied from one to two fact, with reference to the objects which they are intended to scruples; to the ass, 100 grains; to the pigeon, four grains; to fulfil, may be pronounced perfect. They really cannot be too the frog, five grains; and to the rabbit, ten grains; five grains highly commended. They are intended to be affixed over the were placed in the water containing the gold-fish, but the mouth or nose, either separately or in conjunction, and are picrotoxine is very insoluble in water. In all these experiments it was either given by the mouth, or inserted under the accordingly named oral, nasal, and orinasal. One is called skin of the axilla or groin. The author next proceeded to the " hand respirator," which is meant for temporary use only, compare the results of his experiments with those made by M. being held unattached over the nose and mouth. This is a Flourens in the removal of various parts of the brain, especially guard which, we think, might be adopted with advantage by of the corpora quadrigeminaandcerebellum. The resemblance, and others, whose duties call them into the prehe remarked, was very striking. To prove this, a quotation was physicians sence of fever patients. The whole series are of the most delimade from Cuvier’s report to the Institute, on Flourens’expericate were drawn the conclusions the author and workmanship, consisting of the finest silver and other metal ments, following by as thelegitimate deductions from the results of his experiments : wire-work, faced with silk or light woollen-cloth, and fastened 1. Picrotoxine has the power of determining peculiar move- round the head by elastic straps, or otherwise by a cord, as ments and effects very similar to those described by M. Flourens as resulting from sections of the cerebellum, and in one of the respirators which is manufactured expressly for perhaps of the corpora quadrigemina. He did not think, the working-classes, and is sold at a very reduced price. however, that the animals in his experiments were blind until The nasal respirator is a droll-looking apparatus, but injust before death, if then, as in the cases where Flourens cut tended chiefly to be worn during sleep, and we learn that, by away the corpora quadrigemina. The iris was certainly in its aid, persons with very irritable air-passages and lungs are some cases contractile, until the symptoms became very enabled to secure the advantages of copious ventilation, by severe, when the pupil was enormously dilated. 2. Picrotoxine also acts powerfully on the spinal cord, and generally not eschewing a large bed-room filled with cold air. Many of is a narcotico-acrid poison. 3. It is not one of those active the benefits to invalids with laryngeal and chest diseases, supso very energetic, that is to say, in such small doses, principles, posed to accrue from theeli mate of Southern Europe, might, we like conia, aconitina, &c., although a most terrible poison. are ready to believe, be secured by the use, during the English 4. The animal temperature was much increased in some of of such respirators as those now before us;—with the winter, these experiments, forming, in this respect, a great contrast with some facts Dr. Glover observed several years ago, showing additional, and inestimable privilege to the patient, of not the great diminution of temperature undergone by animals being driven away from his friends in the fallacious hope of slowly poisoned by the chloride and bromide of olefiant gas, a cure. Mr. Julius Jeffreys, who is a member of our profeschloroform, bromoform, &c. How far the increase of tempe- sion, deserves high credit for his scientific and elegant inven rature was owing to the excitement of the nervous system, he tions. would not decide. The peculiar movements caused by picrotoxine, Dr. Glover thought, were neither reflex nor voluntary, APPOINTMENT.—Mr. Borlase Childs has been elected but should be considered a third kind of motion; and he.stated, to the Metropolitan Free Hospital. with respect to the cui bono of his experiments, that it is our
Surgeon