Contributions to experimental physiology : showing that the ligation of the trachea, the divisions of the spinal cord in the cervical and dorsal regions, the removal of the viscera ... do not prevent intelligence, sensation, and motions ... / by Bennet Dowler.
- Bennet Dowler
- Date:
- 1852
Licence: Public Domain Mark
Credit: Contributions to experimental physiology : showing that the ligation of the trachea, the divisions of the spinal cord in the cervical and dorsal regions, the removal of the viscera ... do not prevent intelligence, sensation, and motions ... / by Bennet Dowler. 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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![without delay, although unprovided with suitable instruments.* In a few minutes after the operation began, several medical gentlemen ar- rived, though not all iat the same time : Drs. Greig, Coit, Reynolds, Mr. Gordon, and at a later period Dr. Weatherly. 1. The alligator, over 3^ feet long, was vigorous, and disposed to fight and resist. 2. It was secured by bandaging its muzzle and tying its body to a plank, the back down. 3. The trachea was firmly tied in the middle of the neck with a piece of tape. 4. In a few minutes the animal appeared to be dying. The cords were untied, those of the mouth excepted. Death appeared complete in thirty minutes. In the meantime, the viscera of the chest and ab- domen had been exposed. One of the hind legs was dissected—the skin and facise removed—the muscles separated, and the sciatic nerve and its branches, to the popliteal region and down to the ankle, was pinched, disorganized and cut, without any signs of pain—without vo- luntary motions, and without convulsive action, excepting the usual twitchings, chiefly in the toes [which I have so often described as tak- ing place in the apparently dead animal, for a period, sometimes, from one to three days, and even in amputated limbs. These twitchings do not appear, in any case to amount to complete extensions or flexions]. All of a sudden the alligator came to life. This was about half an hour after tying the trachea, the ligature still remaining. The limbs had been relaxed—the body motionless for some minutes. But in the twinkling of an eye it turned upon its abdomen—jumped from the table to the pavement, and without attempting to run away, faced the com- pany—took an attitude of defence—struck at every one that came * Since writing the above, I have performed some, and reviewed other ex- periments made with what would be regarded, at first sight, as suitable instru- ments—instruments which are probably the worst, as sharp knives, keen chis- els, etc. In the present instance, the use of a dull case-knife, probably pre- vented, in a good degree, profuse liaemorrhage, which is always unfavorable to striking results. Franklin, who knew the unaffected simplicity of Nature, ap- proached her portals, and learned her profoundest secrets, by means of a kite, a key, a flask, and a few plain instruments, which would make but a sorry ap- pearance amid the glitter and magnificence of a mordern laboratory. With his kite—an object of ridicule to the ignorant—he discovered how to disarm the tliunder-bolts of heaven.](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b21115606_0002.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
