Arterial hypertonus, sclerosis and blood-pressure / by William Russell.

  • William Russell
Date:
1908
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Arterial hypertonus, sclerosis and blood-pressure / by William Russell. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

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    INFLUENCE OF TOBACCO is assumed to be muscular. Choline acts in the same way, but its action can be prevented or neutralised by atropine. How futile seem the controversies regarding the neuro- genic or myogenic origin of vascular response ! How many controversies have been waged over alternatives, when each was but part of a more central truth ! THE INFLUENCE OF TOBACCO In Chapter XV., which deals with angina pectoris, it is pointed out that one of the recognised clinical varieties of the affection is the toxic form. I illustrate this form by reference to the effect an overdose of tobacco may have on myself. The cardiac discomfort accompanying the hypertonic con- traction noticed in the radial artery illustrates what is perhaps the mildest form of angina pectoris that can be experienced. It is, however, difficult to determine through which system tobacco acts, so I give it this special paragraph here. Tobacco is much used, and its influence upon the vessels has definitely attracted the attention of clinicians. Personally I have not so far paid any special attention to it, but my clinical assistant. Dr. J. L. Green, has recently made observations on himself and a friend. He tells me that if he or his friend inhales a cigarette made of Virginian tobacco, the hypertonic contraction of the radial artery which ensues is very marked, and that with the liardening of the vessel the heemomauometer reading rises 15 mm. Hg. Here, as in other instances, the fact is the constriction of vessels. What the blood-pressure may be inside the constricted vessels is a proUem dealt with in other chapters. REFERENCES. Halliburton, Biucliemistry of Muscle and Nerve, 1904, p. 119 et seq. H. H. Dale, Journ. of Physiol., vol. xxiv. No. 3. Donaldson and Stevens, Journ. of Physiol., 1881, vol. iv. Landois, Physiology, 10th ed., 1904. Broadbent, The Pulse. Leonard Hill, Schafer's Phystoloriy. Elliott, Journ. of Physiol., 1905, vol. xxxii. p. 401. Senator, Folia Therapeutica, A])n\ 1907, p. 37. Oliver and Schafer, Journ. of Physiol, vol. xviii., 1895, pp. 230 and 277. Schafer and Vincent, ibid., vol. xxiv. p. xix. 1899. Brodie and Dixon, ihicl., vol. XXX., 1904, p. 494. Langley, ihid., vol. xxxiii., 190.5-6, p. 374. LeAA^andowsky, Arch,, f. Anat. u. Physiol., 1899, p. 360. Ringer and Sainsbury, Med. Chi. Trans., vol. Ixvii. Haynes, Bio- Chemiccd Journ. vol. i., Feb. 1906.