Spasmodic asthma : a thesis for the M.B. degree of the University of Cambridge / by W.E. Steavenson.

  • Steavenson, W. E. (William Edward), 1850-1891
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Spasmodic asthma : a thesis for the M.B. degree of the University of Cambridge / by W.E. Steavenson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    stomach. At the cessation of the spasm the inspira- tory muscles become relaxed, and contraction of the thorax commences. The elastic recoil of the lungs sometimes takes three or four days. If these conditions of increased capacity and distention of the chest exist in an attack of asthma, can the theory of contracted bronchia for a moment be maintained ? The lungs would perforce follow the chest wall in its distention, and the bronchia and air-tubes be dila- ted and filled with additional air drawn in through the larynx. When the inspiratory spasm is caused by irritation of the centripetal fibres of the vagus starting from their periphery, the impression is carried to the respiratory centre and reflected as a centrifugal im- pression to the group of inspiratory muscles. There- fore the part which the vagus takes in causing an attack of asthma only comes into play when the irritation is peripheral; it only transmits a morbid impression to the medulla which is reflected to other nerves, viz., those supplying the inspiratory muscles. In the books I have consulted with a view to writing this thesis, I have read an article written by M. Jaccoud, of Paris, who has already enunciated a very sinjilar theory''', and I have in several places adopted his views. a. Causes. The real cause or causes which produce asthma have never been satisfactorily made out. That which produces an attack in one asthmatic patient is totally * Also Rosenthal and G. Sde {Nouveau Diction, de Med. et de Chir. prat. Vol. III.)
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