On the minute structure and functions of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata and on the proximate cause and retional treatment of epilepsy / Trans by William Daniel Moore.

  • Schroeder Van Der Kolk, Kacob Ludwig Conrad.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the minute structure and functions of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata and on the proximate cause and retional treatment of epilepsy / Trans by William Daniel Moore. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    van Geuns, has shown me, also in the internal parts, the peritonaeum especially the kidneys, perhaps also in the nervous system, and that it may here produce an alteration in the sensibility.* This theory is, however, too doubtful to justify us in running the risk of dis- colouring a patient for his whole life, for the sake of so uncertain a result. Sulphate of copper, too, of which I have made more use than of the ammoniacal sulphate, as the latter appeared to me to be more irritating to the bowels, is, as many observations on maniacal patients have convinced me, an excellent tonic in weakness of the bowels, exciting the appetite, promoting digestion, and counteracting the tendency to liquid motions. In epilepsy I have seen no advantage from it, and I have but seldom employed it in this disease. The action of oxide of zinc appears to be somewhat different. In small doses I have never derived any advantage from it; in large doses, given after Herpin's method, I have, however, in several cases seen great benefit from its use, and have even witnessed recovery from epilepsy, when the patient had, for example, reached a dose of one drachm daily. My experience on this subject does not agree with that of J. Moreau, who in his very excellent prize essay on epilepsy, states that in nine cases, which he reports at fall length, he saw absolutely no benefit derived from the employment of this medicine, t That flowers of zinc exercise some sedative and calming influence on the nervous system, has long been known. They possess this property in common with many other remedies, which in large closes excite vomiting, especially with tartar emetic; the latter, however, irritates the mucous membrane more, but also, has a more strongly de- pressing action, while the flowers of zinc do not appear to irritate the mucous membrane of the intestines, but to moderate their sensibility. In large doses they promote the regular action of the bowels, the pulse usually becomes softer. It appears to me, that in this sedative * The pia mater and arachnoid were indeed coloured blue, but the sub- stance of the brain and the spinal cord differed but little from the ordinary colour ; only some parts had assumed a light-grey colour. See Verslagen en Mededeelingen der KoninM. Akad., 3e Dl., 2e St., p. 176. [I have, on another occasion, translated the observations of Professor van Geuns in reference to this subject, which may be found in the Dublin Quarterly Journal of Medical Science, Vol. XXVI., p. 244. W. D. M.] f J. Moreau. Be Vetiologie de VEpilepsie, Memoire couronne, in the Me- moires de VAcademie Imperiale de Medecine. Paris, 1854, t. 18, p. 143.