A dictionary of chemistry, on the basis of Mr. Nicholson's: in which the principles of the science are investigated anew, and its applications to the phenomena of nature, medicine, mineralogy, agriculture, and manufactures, detailed (Volume 2).

  • Ure, Andrew, 1778-1857.
Date:
1821
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A dictionary of chemistry, on the basis of Mr. Nicholson's: in which the principles of the science are investigated anew, and its applications to the phenomena of nature, medicine, mineralogy, agriculture, and manufactures, detailed (Volume 2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    These general physiological views will thyraideue muscle, from three to four inches serve, I hope, as no inappropriate intro duction to the detail of the galvanic phe- nomena, exhibited here on the 4th of No- vember, in the body of the murderer Clydes- dale; and they may probably guide us to some valuable practical inferences. above the clavicle; the cutaneous incision having been made by the side of the ster- no-ck ido-mastoideus. Since this nerve is distributed to the diaphragm, and since it communicates to the heart through the eighth pair, it was expected, by transmit- The subject of these experiments was a ting the galvanic power along it, that the middle-sized, athletic, and extremely mus- respiratory process would be renewed. Ac- cular man, about thirty years of age. He cordingly, a small incision having been Was suspended from the galloWs nearly an made under the cartilage of the seventh hour, and made no convulsive struggle after rib, the point of the one insulating rod was he dropped; while a thief, executed along brought into contact with the great head with him, was violently agitated for a con- of the diaphragm, while the other point siderable time. He was brought to the was applied to the phrenic nerve in the anatomical theatre of our university in neck. This muscle, the main agent of res- about ten minutes after he was cut down, piration, was instantly contracted, but with His face had a perfectly natural aspect, less force than was expected. Satisfied, being neither livid nor tumefied; and there from ample experience on the living body, Was no dislocation of his neck. that more powerful effects can be produced Dr. JeffVay, the distinguished professor in galvanic excitation, by leaving the ex- of anatomy, having on the preceding day treme communicating rods in close contact requested me to perform the galvanic ex- with the parts to be operated on, while the periments, I sent to his theatre with this electric chain or circuit is completed, by view, next morning, my minor voltaic bat- running the end of the wires along the top tery, consisting of 270 pairs of four inch of the plates in the last trough of either plates, witli wires of communication, and pole, the other wire being steadily im- pointed metallic rods with insulating han- mersed in the last cell of the opposite pole, dies, for the more commodious application I had immediate recourse to this method, of the electric power. About five minutes The success of it was truly wonderful, before the police officers arrived with the Full, nay, laborious breathing, instantly body, the battery was charged with a di- commenced. The chest heaved, and fell; lute nitro-sulphuric acid, which speedily the belly was protruded, and again col- brought it into a state, ot intense action. The dissections were skilfully executed by Mr. -Marshall, under the superinten- dence of the professor. Exp. 1. A large incision was made into the nape of the neck, close below the occi- put. The posterior half of the atlas ver- tebra was then removed by bone forceps, when the spinal marrow was brought into lapsed, with the relaxing and retiring dia- phragm. This process was continued, with- out interruption, as long as 1 continued the electric discharges. In the judgment of many scientific gen- tlemen who witnessed the scene, this res- piratory experiment was perhaps the most striking ever made with a philosophical apparatus. Let it also be remembered, that view. A profuse flow of liquid blood gush- for full half an hour before this period, the ed from the wound, inundating the floor, body had been well nigh drained of its A considerable incision was at the same blood, and the spinal marrow severely la- time made in the left hip, through the cerated. No pulsation could be perceived great gluteal muscle, so as to bring the meanwhile at the heart or wrist; but it may sciatic nerve into sight; and a small cut be supposed, that but for the evacuation was made in the heel. From neither of these did any blood flow. The pointed rod connected with one end of the battery, was now placed in contact with the spinal of the blood,—the essential stimulus of that organ,—this phenomenon might also have occurred. Exp. 3. The supra-orbital nerve was laid marrow, while the other rod was applied bare in the forehead, as it issues through to the sciatic nerve. Every muscle of the the supra-ciliary foramen, in the eyebrow: body was immediately agitated with con- the one conducting rod being applied to vulsive movements, resembling a violent it, and the other to the heel, most extraor- shuddering from cold. The left side was dinary grimaces were exhibited every time most powerfully convulsed at each renewal that the electric discharges were made, by of the electric contact. On moving the se- running the wire in my hand along the cond rod from the hip to the heel, the knee edges of the last trough, from the 220th being previously bent, the leg was thrown to the 270th pair of plates; thus fifty shocks, out with such violence, as nearly to over- each greater than the preceding one, were turn one of the assistants, who in vain at- given in two seconds: every muscle in his tempted to prevent its extension. countenance was simultaneously thrown Exp. 2. The left phrenic nerve was now into fearful action; rage, horror, despair, laid bare at the outer edge of the sferno- anguish, and ghastly smiles, united their