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THE ACTION OF TOXINS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
RED CROSS AND KINDRED WORK IN SWITZERLAND.
565
departments of the respective territories are degeneration passed into the pons and medulla. willing to provide land, and sufficient is said Hence it seems proved that poisons pass along to indicate to those who read between the the lymph-channels of the nerves and exert lines as to the class of man or family who a direct local action on the cord and medulla, would be likely to benefit by the emigration passing round the cord to some extent and suggested. The knowledge acquired from Sir Rider entering along with the prolongation of the piaHaggard’s report will, however, have to be supple- arachnoid. Other experiments were made to mented by closer inquiry before any prudent simulate a hsematogenous intoxication by placing decision can be arrived at by individuals. An the infective capsules in the peritoneal cavity, in interesting discussion conducted by correspondence which case no direct neuritis of peripheral nerves between Sir Rider Haggard, Mr. Jesse Collings, resulted, the condition resembling an alimentary In these cases there were found a and Mr. Wilmot Corfield upon the comparative toxaemia. claims of settlement upon the land in Great primary degeneration of the myelin sheaths of Britain and oversea will be found included. We fibres round the periphery of the cord, oedema of are inclined to think that Sir Rider Haggard has the cord, proliferation of the peri-vascular neuroglia, the best of the argument so far as it carries us, and and dilatation of the vessels with hyaline thromIn this last the hyaline material first lay that his reasons in favour of emigration, as well as bosis. the facts that underlie them, are likely to weigh along the sides of the vessels, giving rise to a netwith many of those who some day may consult work extending from side to side, and finally his report when making their plans. It is easy to obliterating the lumen completely. Although in prophesy, as Mr. Collings does, that for these men these cases there is apparently a hasmatogenous " there will be no sufficient employment in the infection, the observers suggest that the poison also industrial world in England," but we would rather affects the sympathetic nerves, thus exciting the
wait till war has ceased for six months or even for a year or two before settling in our minds what the demands of industry will be. It is easy, again, to write of " nine-tenths of England that might be cultivated." We have seen similar statements elsewhere of a huge acreage which might be cultivated in Cornwall, a county which in many districts is extremely fertile. It is, however, a different task to enable men to whom agriculture may be a new pursuit to earn a living where their ancestors, when farming prosperously, failed to " The see money " in further reclamation of land. definite prospect of making a livelihood will be the condition which the prudent will ask for. A healthier life in freer surroundings for themselves and their families will be the attraction that will weigh in the balance when the relative merits of urban and rural industries come to be estimated.
vascular reaction observed. Applying the results to human neurology, it would appear that acute and chronic myelitis are due to infection ascending along the nerve trunks. Dementia paralytica is also to be regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease of lymphogenous origin, and tabes dorsalis is similarly produced. Infantile paralysis falls into the same group, the most striking member of which is seen in Landry’s paralysis. On the other hand, the affections of the cord which are met with in anaemia, Addison’s disease, and so forth, are to be
classed as heematogenous, lesions.
AN account of some interesting and important observations on the conveyance of toxins to the central nervous system and of their action there is given in a paper which is published in the August number of the Eàinbupgh Medical JournaZ by Dr. As the David Orr and Major R. G. Rows, R.A.M.C. result of a study of many cases of suppurative and other septic conditions, they found that there takes place a spread of the toxin by means of the lymphatics of the nerve trunks, and that the poison enters the spinal cord at the site of " origin " of the nerve and attacks the nerve-fibres at the point where they lose their covering of neurilemma. The degeneration can sometimes be traced from the anterior roots into the grey matter, where it terminates among the cells. To confirm these observations experiments were made on animals by placing celloidin capsules containing pathogenic organisms in contact with selected nerves, and examining the nerves and central nervous system subsequently. The results corresponded with those seen in human disease. Thus when the sciatic nerve was involved, a degeneration of the exogenous system of fibres in the posterior columns of the cord was induced, beginning, as in the human cases, where the fibres lose their sheaths, and involving the root-entry zone and the collaterals passing into the posterior If nerves in the cheek were selected, the cornua.
no
inflammatory
RED CROSS AND KINDRED WORK IN SWITZERLAND.
THE recent statement in the press that 50 French being entertained at Montreux for three weeks as guests of the Swiss Government suggests a review of the various forms of beneficent action in which Switzerland has engaged during the past two years. It will be known to all that Geneva was the home of the Red Cross movement and the birthplace of Henri Dunant, who devoted his life to it. Far from obtaining due personal recognition for his work or material reward, he was for much of the latter part of his life unknown and in want, and only when he was quite a brokendown old man, just maintaining his existence at a nursing home above the Lake of Constance, did any public recognition of his life work come to him in the form of an annuity from the Empress Mother of Russia and of one of the Nobel prizes. The Bernese Comite de Secours aux Prisonniers de Guerre arose in December, 1914, as a branch of the Swiss Red Cross. For almost two years it has sent a constant stream of food and clothing to necessitous prisoners in all countries, with special attention to the invaded regions with their dispossessed inhabitants. Up to the beginning of August 150,000 packets have been sent, and the Italian internes in Austria have been the concern of the From most recent branch of the work at Lugano. the beginning of the war Geneva has been the bureau of exchange for information concerning prisoners of war and 2000 or more voluntary workers have been constantly engaged in putting relatives in touch with "missing"soldiers. This means of inter-communication was available long nurses are
THE ACTION OF TOXINS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
showing
565
departments of the respective territories are degeneration passed into the pons and medulla. willing to provide land, and sufficient is said Hence it seems proved that poisons pass along to indicate to those who read between the the lymph-channels of the nerves and exert lines as to the class of man or family who a direct local action on the cord and medulla, would be likely to benefit by the emigration passing round the cord to some extent and suggested. The knowledge acquired from Sir Rider entering along with the prolongation of the piaHaggard’s report will, however, have to be supple- arachnoid. Other experiments were made to mented by closer inquiry before any prudent simulate a hsematogenous intoxication by placing decision can be arrived at by individuals. An the infective capsules in the peritoneal cavity, in interesting discussion conducted by correspondence which case no direct neuritis of peripheral nerves between Sir Rider Haggard, Mr. Jesse Collings, resulted, the condition resembling an alimentary In these cases there were found a and Mr. Wilmot Corfield upon the comparative toxaemia. claims of settlement upon the land in Great primary degeneration of the myelin sheaths of Britain and oversea will be found included. We fibres round the periphery of the cord, oedema of are inclined to think that Sir Rider Haggard has the cord, proliferation of the peri-vascular neuroglia, the best of the argument so far as it carries us, and and dilatation of the vessels with hyaline thromIn this last the hyaline material first lay that his reasons in favour of emigration, as well as bosis. the facts that underlie them, are likely to weigh along the sides of the vessels, giving rise to a netwith many of those who some day may consult work extending from side to side, and finally his report when making their plans. It is easy to obliterating the lumen completely. Although in prophesy, as Mr. Collings does, that for these men these cases there is apparently a hasmatogenous " there will be no sufficient employment in the infection, the observers suggest that the poison also industrial world in England," but we would rather affects the sympathetic nerves, thus exciting the
wait till war has ceased for six months or even for a year or two before settling in our minds what the demands of industry will be. It is easy, again, to write of " nine-tenths of England that might be cultivated." We have seen similar statements elsewhere of a huge acreage which might be cultivated in Cornwall, a county which in many districts is extremely fertile. It is, however, a different task to enable men to whom agriculture may be a new pursuit to earn a living where their ancestors, when farming prosperously, failed to " The see money " in further reclamation of land. definite prospect of making a livelihood will be the condition which the prudent will ask for. A healthier life in freer surroundings for themselves and their families will be the attraction that will weigh in the balance when the relative merits of urban and rural industries come to be estimated.
vascular reaction observed. Applying the results to human neurology, it would appear that acute and chronic myelitis are due to infection ascending along the nerve trunks. Dementia paralytica is also to be regarded as a chronic inflammatory disease of lymphogenous origin, and tabes dorsalis is similarly produced. Infantile paralysis falls into the same group, the most striking member of which is seen in Landry’s paralysis. On the other hand, the affections of the cord which are met with in anaemia, Addison’s disease, and so forth, are to be
classed as heematogenous, lesions.
AN account of some interesting and important observations on the conveyance of toxins to the central nervous system and of their action there is given in a paper which is published in the August number of the Eàinbupgh Medical JournaZ by Dr. As the David Orr and Major R. G. Rows, R.A.M.C. result of a study of many cases of suppurative and other septic conditions, they found that there takes place a spread of the toxin by means of the lymphatics of the nerve trunks, and that the poison enters the spinal cord at the site of " origin " of the nerve and attacks the nerve-fibres at the point where they lose their covering of neurilemma. The degeneration can sometimes be traced from the anterior roots into the grey matter, where it terminates among the cells. To confirm these observations experiments were made on animals by placing celloidin capsules containing pathogenic organisms in contact with selected nerves, and examining the nerves and central nervous system subsequently. The results corresponded with those seen in human disease. Thus when the sciatic nerve was involved, a degeneration of the exogenous system of fibres in the posterior columns of the cord was induced, beginning, as in the human cases, where the fibres lose their sheaths, and involving the root-entry zone and the collaterals passing into the posterior If nerves in the cheek were selected, the cornua.
no
inflammatory
RED CROSS AND KINDRED WORK IN SWITZERLAND.
THE recent statement in the press that 50 French being entertained at Montreux for three weeks as guests of the Swiss Government suggests a review of the various forms of beneficent action in which Switzerland has engaged during the past two years. It will be known to all that Geneva was the home of the Red Cross movement and the birthplace of Henri Dunant, who devoted his life to it. Far from obtaining due personal recognition for his work or material reward, he was for much of the latter part of his life unknown and in want, and only when he was quite a brokendown old man, just maintaining his existence at a nursing home above the Lake of Constance, did any public recognition of his life work come to him in the form of an annuity from the Empress Mother of Russia and of one of the Nobel prizes. The Bernese Comite de Secours aux Prisonniers de Guerre arose in December, 1914, as a branch of the Swiss Red Cross. For almost two years it has sent a constant stream of food and clothing to necessitous prisoners in all countries, with special attention to the invaded regions with their dispossessed inhabitants. Up to the beginning of August 150,000 packets have been sent, and the Italian internes in Austria have been the concern of the From most recent branch of the work at Lugano. the beginning of the war Geneva has been the bureau of exchange for information concerning prisoners of war and 2000 or more voluntary workers have been constantly engaged in putting relatives in touch with "missing"soldiers. This means of inter-communication was available long nurses are
THE ACTION OF TOXINS ON THE CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM.
showing