New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon.

  • Gordon, Charles Alexander, 1821-1899.
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: New theory and old practice in relation to medicine and certain industries : being an analysis of current literature of these subjects / by C.A. Gordon. 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.

    30/158 (page 24)
    for the purpose of demonstrating preconceived opinions ; that not one of the principles laid down by him is tenable in reality, and in no way to be distinguished from absolutely capricious interpretations ;—his pictures of brain centres as fancy pictures. (Ayez Pitie, pp. 96, 97 ; Zoophilist, May 1st, 1882, pp. 3, 5). Professor Christian could not accept the doctrine advocated by Munck, Ferrier, and Hitzig regarding the localisation of activity of the cerebrum. {Nature, July 10th, 1884). The general question discussed in the preceding paragraphs has been summarised after this manner :—Originally one with phrenology, Gall's theory was that twenty-seven special cerebral organs existed for an equal number of special faculties. Fleurens demonstrated that in the outside grey matter of the brain there are no special centres. The experiments of Eleurens, however, were performed on pigeons, and the data thus obtained were applied to man. Majendie and others performed a series of experiments, all tending to prove that the substance of the convolu- tions Avas not sensitive, and that it contained no special centres for the localisation of fimction. In 1870 Hitzig and Fritsch arrived at the con- clusion from experiments, that the conclusions arrived at by their predecessors were wrong; that some parts of the surface of the brain were sensitive to electricity, and that when certain points were excited, movements followed as a matter of course. Subsequently, Ferrier was led to establish localised centres in the convolutions, for certain defined muscular movements. Goltz followed in the same path ; but he noticed that the conclusions arrived at by Ferrier and Mimk differed essentially between themselves, and that there are no sufficient grounds for many of the conclusions of Ferrier regarding several of his localisations. Ferrier replies, that however it may be with dogs, it is different in the monkey and in man. According to Charcot:—The result of experimentation on animals—regarding cerebral localisations—in reference to man, can only furnish presumptions more or less well founded, but no absolute demon- stration. It is on man himself that truth must be sought. The con- ditions of an experiment, produced indeed spontaneously, are realised daily in man under pathological circumstances. {Zoophilist, May 1st, 1882, p. 23). The results obtained by Galvanic or Faradaic, stimulation of the surface of the hemispheres have led to considerable differences of opinion among experimenters as to their real significance. Schiff regards the movements resulting from stimiUation of the hemispheres as of a reflex nature, but denies the existence of centres which exert any direct influence on the muscles of animal life. {id. p. 30). Dr. Calderwood wi-ites .-—While