Experimental researches on the post-mortem contractility of the muscles, with observations on the reflex theory / by Bennet Dowler.

  • Dowler, Bennet, 1797-1879.
Date:
1846
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experimental researches on the post-mortem contractility of the muscles, with observations on the reflex theory / by Bennet Dowler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by Royal College of Physicians, London. The original may be consulted at Royal College of Physicians, London.

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    orders for his trade, had been led into convivial habits, which increased to an extreme degree. When I first saw him he was vomiting continually, always calling for liquids, toast and water, soda water, and even brandy and water; all of which were immediately rejected, together with a large quantity of mucous secretion, from the stomach. He was moaning, and restless, and seemed to find most relief by lying upon his stomach, rather on one side, and was very disin- clined to be questioned, though anxious for relief. His pulse was small and quick, his tongue furred, and the urine high-coloured. “ On examination, the slightest pressure at the pit of the stomach caused him great pain. He said, there was situated all his misery, and unless something were done, and soon, to relieve it, he must die. “ All these symptoms had come on about a week before, and had continued increasing to the period of my seeing him. For a long time previous to their appearance he had suffered from morning sickness, want of appetite, occasional pain, and flatulence. He attributed his discomforts to his mode of life, and confessed that he usually sought to relieve them by additional stimulants. He was still a fine-looking, muscular man, not at all emaciated. “ General depletion was not ventured upon, as he had recently been the subject of delirium tremens ; the most active local antiphlogistic measures were resorted to, but without giving relief. Nothing which was done seemed to have any control over the sickness, which was continued to the last. He only lived a few days. “ Examination of the body 24 hours after death.—On opening the body the parieties were well stored with fat. “ The stomach was the seat of considerable change; the lining membrane was of a dull red colour; the opening into the duodenum was narrowed, but freely admitted the finger; the muscular and mucous coats were found hyper- trophied. The muscular coat was firm, rather than hard like sciwhus; the mucous coat softer than natural, and thickened and injected.” P. 138. We must now take leave of Dr. Alderson. The perusal of his present volume has afforded us much gratification, and we trust that!'ere long we. shall the pleasure of introducing him to the notice of our feadj^f>> again have / Of i V Experimental Researches on the Post-mortem Contractility of r the Muscles, with Observations on the ReJ^^J^i^eory. By Bennet Dowler, M.D. New York, 1846. 1 It happens, from time to time, that some writer favours the world with specu- lations directly opposed to what are, by common consent, received as established laws and principles in science. On such productions people usually, and with good reason, look with some degree of suspicion; for, in order to make room for their reception, the labours of the most splended minds must first of all be set aside. The brochure before us belongs to the category just indicated. The author, not satisfied with criticising what are, to him, the errors of Haller, sweeps away the ground-work on which Bell based his splendid discoveries; and, having accomplished this feat to his own satisfaction, naturally enough asks whether, after all, there be any discovery in the doctrines of our distinguished countryman. After such achievements, it is a small matter that our author demolishes with- out remorse, nay, with some indications of inward satisfaction, the whole theory of the reflex action, treating Dr. Marshall Hall with much less ceremony than is