Nervous exhaustion and the diseases induced by it : with observations on the origin and nature of nervous force.

  • Campbell, Hugh Joseph, 1898-
Date:
1873
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nervous exhaustion and the diseases induced by it : with observations on the origin and nature of nervous force. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    the amount of prostration by the extent of the dis- turbance ; and if continued for any time sets up all the symptoms of hysteria, dyspepsia, hypochon- driasis, chlorosis, &c* Now these symptoms are entirely due to these artificially-induced per- turbations, and are totally distinct from the true dynamic reactions which, in the healthy molecular condition of the nerves, are produced in them by the ordinary exigences of existence. In nervous exhaustion from hereditary predispo- sition, the primary factor is mal-nutrition, from a special inherent tendency in the elementary parts of the tissues to become altered in one way or another, so that the healthy currents are not generated as fully or with the full tension of health. This inherited defect may not exist in all portions of the nerve tissues, but may and frequently does localize itself in one particular part—it may be in some part of the cerebro-spinal system, or confined to the sympa- thetic, and in either case it will manifest its presence by giving rise to functional disorders in those parts only of the body which derive their nervous supply from that particular centre. In nervous exhaustion from excessive use and abuse of nerve force, the molecular disturbances are very considerable, and as a consequence the nerve currents are weak and insufficient; while the interdependence of forces in the animal economy is so great that the loss of balance rapidly leads to in- sufficient nutrition, with morbid changes of chemical Vide The Experiments of Du Bois-Reymond.!
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