The London Medical Record Volume 14 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 Excerpt: ... strychnine need be given. M. Wertheimer severed the spinal cord of an adult dog at eleven o'clock in the morning. Artificial respiration was carried on during some hours afterwards. The animal was carefully enveloped in cotton-wool, and kept warm. At five o'clock P.M. it was observed that general reflex action had returned in the limbs, and feeble respiratory movements were effected. Gradually, these became quicker and stronger. When five minutes had elapsed they were from 15 to 30 per second. The respirations grew feebler, therefore artificial respiration was effected, and afterwards definitively discontinued; the same phenomena were observed as those described above. M. Wertheimer concludes that respiratory movements return in the trunk of an adult dog when the spinal cord is cut between the atlas and axis, if sufficient time be allowed to elapse to allow the excitability of the organ to return. If at this moment artificial respiration be suspended, this excitability is stimulated by the blood strongly charged with carbonic acid. Thus it is demonstrated that the spinal cord is not only a centre of origin of the nerves innervating the respiratory muscles, but in a physiological sense a respiratory centre, influencing the rhythmic movements of these muscles. This centre can perform its function independently of reflex action, stimulated by the modification of the blood which nourishes it The fact is of importance with reference to the general physiology of respiratory centres. 5720. D je"rine on a Case of Suppression of Reflex Action of the Patella; the Spinal Cord remaining intact, also the Posterior Roots.--It is well known that in a normal condition absence of reflex action in the patella very rarely happens, but is important as a symptom of s...