A Case ofTumour in the Brain, with Remarks on the Propagation of Nervous Influence

Former experiments having shown that when the functions of the brain are destroyed the secretory organs invariably ceased to perform their office, and consequently that the various secretions were probably dependent on nervous influence, it appeared desirable to ascertain this point by dividing the nervous branches by which some one gland is supplied, and observing the effect. But on account of the difficulty of the operation itself, and of the injury done to adjacent parts, it appears extremely difficult to determine the real influence of the nerves in the natural state of all the functions. There are, however, some experiments on the preternatural secretion excited by the action of arsenic, and its interruption by division of the nerves, which the author thinks may deserve to be recorded as tending to elucidate so important a subject. Mr. Brodie had formerly observed in dogs poisoned by arsenic, a very copious secretion of mucus and watery fluid from the coats of the stomach and intestines, and so rapidly excited, that he conceived this to be a favourable instance for observing the effect of dividing those nerves which supply the stomach.

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On the relation which subsists between the nervous and muscular systems in the more perfect animals, and the nature of the influence by which it is maintained

Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1830.0093 ◽

1837 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 164-165

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Royal Society ◽

Spinal Marrow ◽

Chemical Agents ◽

The Subject ◽

The Brain ◽

Mechanical Irritation ◽

Nervous Influence

The author, after referring to his former papers which have at different times been read to the Royal Society, and published in their Transactions, is led to view the brain and spinal marrow as the only active parts of the nervous system 3 the nerves, whether belonging to the class of cerebral or ganglionic, together with their plexuses and ganglions, serving only as the means of conveying and combining the various parts of the former organs, and therefore being passive with reference to their functions. This view of the subject is directly opposed to that which has been adopted by many physiologists, who consider these ganglions as the sources, and not the mere vehicles, of nervous influence. In order to determine this point, the author made the following experiment on an animal that had been pithed so as to destroy its sensibility, while the action of the heart continued. Under these circumstances, he applied mechanical irritation, and also various chemical agents, to the ganglions and plexuses of the ganglionic nerves, and found that the heart continued to beat with the same regularity as before, and with the same frequency of pulsation.

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Epithelial Cells and Their Neighbors. II. New perspectives on efferent signaling between brain, neuroendocrine cells, and gut epithelial cells

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.00093.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 289 (3) ◽

pp. G377-G380 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Gunnar Flemström ◽

Markus Sjöblom

Keyword(s):

Epithelial Cells ◽

Endocrine Cells ◽

Neuroendocrine Cells ◽

Cell Hyperplasia ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Gut Endocrine Cells ◽

Transfer Of Information ◽

Exciting Area ◽

The Brain ◽

Nervous Influence

Surface sensory enteroendocrine cells are established mucosal taste cells that monitor luminal contents and provide an important link in transfer of information from gut epithelium to the central nervous system. Recent studies now show that these cells can also mediate efferent signaling from the brain to the gut. Centrally elicited stimulation of vagal and sympathetic pathways induces release of melatonin, which acts at MT2 receptors to increase mucosal electrolyte secretion. Psychological factors as well mucosal endocrine cell hyperplasia are implicated in functional intestinal disorders. Central nervous influence on the release of transmitters from gut endocrine cells offers an exciting area of future gastrointestinal research with a clinical relevance.

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VI. Experiments made with a view to ascertain the principle on which the action of the heart depends, and the relation which subsists between that organ and the nervous system

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rstl.1815.0007 ◽

1815 ◽

Vol 105 ◽

pp. 65-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

The Body ◽

The Other ◽

Modus Operandi ◽

Spinal Marrow ◽

Difference Of Opinion ◽

The Subject ◽

The Brain ◽

General Opinion ◽

Nervous Influence

The following experiments were begun with a view to as certain the manner in which certain poisons act in destroying life. I soon found that, in order to make any considerable progress in such an inquiry, it is necessary to ascertain how far the powers of the nervous and sanguiferous systems directly depend on each other. There seems never to have been any difference of opinion respecting the direct dependence of the nervous on the sanguiferous system. When the powers of circulation are increased or diminished, the nervous system always suffers a corresponding change, nor can the latter, under any circumstances, continue to perform its functions after the former are destroyed. I speak of the warm blooded animals. In cold blooded animals the process of dying is so slow, that the functions of the nervous system abate very gradually, after the circulation has wholly ceased. The converse of the above proposition is by no means so generally admitted. It is evident that certain changes of the nervous, produce corresponding changes in the sanguiferous, system ; yet, while some assert, that the action of the heart depends as immediately on the brain, as that of the latter does on the heart, others maintain, that the nervous power may be wholly destroyed without impairing the vigour of this organ. This point it is necessary to determine, before we can trace with precision the modus operandi of poisons. The following inquiry therefore may be divided into two parts. In the first, I shall endeavour to ascertain how far the power of the heart is influenced by the state of the nervous system; in the other, by what steps certain poisons destroy the powers of both. This I shall reserve for another paper, and here confine myself to the first part of the subject. Till the time of Haller, it seems to have been the general opinion, that the muscles derive their power from the nervous system. He taught, that the power of the muscles depends on their mechanism, that the nervous influence is merely a stimulus which calls it into action, and consequently that those muscles, the heart for example, which act only by the application of one peculiar stimulus, unconnected with the nervous system, are wholly independent of it. This opinion seemed confirmed by its being generally admitted, that the action of the heart continues after it is removed from the body, and that it cannot be influenced by stimulating the brain, or spinal marrow, or the nerves which terminate in it. Haller and his followers maintain, that there are two distinct vital powers, one of the nervous and another of the sanguiferous system.

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On the function of the medulla oblongata and medulla spinalis, and on the excito-motory system of nerves

Abstracts of the Papers Printed in the Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London ◽

10.1098/rspl.1830.0282 ◽

1837 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

pp. 463-464

Keyword(s):

Nervous System ◽

Medulla Oblongata ◽

Special Function ◽

Intercostal Nerve ◽

Muscular System ◽

Spinal Marrow ◽

Pathological Conditions ◽

Motor Nerves ◽

The Brain ◽

Nervous Influence

The author begins by observing that a former memoir of his, entitled, “ On the Reflex Function of the Medulla Oblongata and Medulla Spinalis,” published in the Philosophical Transactions for 1833, has been translated into German, and favourably spoken of by Professor Muller, of Berlin. He states that his object in the present paper is to unfold what he calls a great principle in physiology j namely, that of the special function, and the physiological and pathological action and reactions of the true spinal marrow, and of the excito-motory nerves. The two experiments which he regards as affording the type of those physiological phenomena and pathological conditions, which are the direct effects of causes acting in the spinal marrow, or in the course of the motor nerves, are the following :— 1. If a muscular nerve be stimulated, either mechanically by the forceps, or by means of galvanism passed transversely across its fibres, the muscle or muscles to which it is distributed are excited to contract.—2. The same result is obtained when the spinal marrow itself is subjected to the agency of a mechanical or galvanic stimulus. The following experiment, on the other hand, presents the type of all the actions of the reflex function of the spinal marrow, and of the excito-motory system of nerves, and of an exclusive series of physiological and pathological phenomena :—If in a turtle, from which the head and sternum have been removed, we lay bare the sixth or seventh intercostal nerve, and stimulate it either by means of the forceps or galvanism, both the anterior and posterior fins, with the tail, are immediately moved with energy. Hence the author infers the existence: 1st, of a true spinal marrow, physiologically distinct from the chord of intra-spinal nerves; 2ndly, of a system of excito-motory nerves, physiologically distinct from the sentient and voluntary nerves; and, 3rdly, of currents of nervous influence, incident, upwards, downwards, and reflex with regard to the spinal marrow. A review is then taken of the labours of preceding physiologists relative to the functions of the nervous system : in which the author criticises the reasonings of Whytt, Legallois, Mr. Mayo, Dr. Alison, and Professor Muller; and illustrates his own peculiar views by several experiments and pathological observations, which appear to him to show that muscular movements may occur, under circumstances implying the cessation of sensation, volition, and every other function of the brain; and that these phenomena are explicable only on the hypothesis that impressions made on a certain set of nerves, which he terms excitomotory , are conveyed to a particular portion of the spinal marrow belonging to that system, and are thence reflected, by means of certain motor nerves, upon certain sets of muscles, inducing certain actions. The same actions may also be the result of impressions made directly either on the spinal marrow or on the motor nerves. He accordingly considers that the whole nervous system may be divided into,— 1st, the cerebral , or the sentient and voluntary; 2ndly, the true spinal, or the excitor and motor; and, 3rdly, the ganglionic, or the nutrient, the secretory. The excito-motory system presides over ingestion and exclusion, retention and egestion, and over the orifices and sphincters of the animal frame: it is therefore the nervous system of respiration, deglutition, &c., and the source of tone in the whole muscular system. The true spinal system is the seat or nervous agent of the appetites and passions, but is also susceptible of modification by volition. This theory he proceeds to apply to the explanation of several phenomena relating to the motions of the eyelids, pharynx, cardia, larynx, muscles of inspiration, sphincter animal expulsors of the faeces and semen, to the tone of the muscular system generally, and to actions resulting from the passions. Lastly, he considers its application to various diseased states of the same functions, as manifested in cynic spasm, vomiting, asthma, tenesmus, strangury, crowing inspiration, convulsions, epilepsy, tetanus, hydrophobia, and paralysis.

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