Essays on the theory of convulsive diseases / by Marshall Hall.

  • Hall, Marshall, 1790-1857.
Date:
[1848]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Essays on the theory of convulsive diseases / by Marshall Hall. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    intestinal irritation, the condition of the larynx is very apt to be affected by the north-east winds, or other conditions of the atmosphere, and the sphincters by the contents of the rectum and perhaps of the bladder. A little experience will teach us, in a case so involved in obscurity and doubt as to the individual cause, most carefully to avoid all; this conclusion is of the greatest moment in practice. I think it highly probable, fifthly, that the occurrence of this convulsive affection may become associated with an aug¬ mented excitability of the spinal centre. This may be viewed as the proximate cause of the disease ; the others of which I have just been treating being its exciting and remote causes. It is from this cause that the attacks are apt to be reproduced by causes too slight to produce such an effect originally. Hence, the modes of treatment found to be beneficial should be continued carefully, long after the little patient appears to be well. This caution I also regard to be of great prac¬ tical importance. § 5. The Influence of Sleep. The condition of the nervous system, during sleeep, is peculiar. It is not unallied to epilepsy, and hence it often passes into epilepsy, and especially into convulsive affection in infants. The influence of volition being withdrawn, or nearly so, the muscles of the neck and larynx, like the orbi¬ cularis, contract on the venous system distributed in the neck, and the breathing becomes audible; it also ceases to be rhythmic; and, during its first and deeper stage, attacks of laryngismus, or other forms of convulsive disease, in infants, as epilepsy in adults, are apt to occur. In deep sleep, there is a low degree of laryngismus even, manifested by stertor or snoring. During sleep, the nervous centres are congested. If we open the eye, the conjunctiva is often observed to be deeply suffused. In this condition of the circulation, we need not feel surprised if undue excitability occur, and that a dream, or an excitant of reflex action, may add to the peculiar condition