On spasm, languor, palsy, and other disorders, termed nervous, of the muscular system / by James Arthur Wilson.

  • Wilson, James Arthur, 1795-1882.
Date:
1843
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On spasm, languor, palsy, and other disorders, termed nervous, of the muscular system / by James Arthur Wilson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by University of Bristol Library. The original may be consulted at University of Bristol Library.

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    sent great and contending claims. In practical medi- cine, as in physiology, the muscle is the arena in which such questions will be best decided. That much of what disturbs the function of the muscle may be transmitted to its structure by the nerve, is of fre- quent and undoubted proof; in modern pathology it is not so necessary to be reminded of this principle of nervous influence upon the muscle, as to receive a caution against the too frequent application of it. Disease of the brain or spinal marrow involving the extremities of certain nerves there organized, will necessarily be followed by effects in the structures from which such nerves arise, and of which they form an integral and necessary part. This is especially true of the double voluntary muscles of the body, by the nerves of which, in their common union, the double brain is principally formed, its function being the result of such combination. Thus, from symp- toms of disordered or defective action in the muscle, we infer, and often with truth, a disease in the struc- ture or disorder in the function of the brain; but it should be carefully remembered that there may be great disturbance of the muscular function, for which neither the brain or the nerves of the affected muscles are in any way responsible. We are apt to forget that the sensations expressed by nerves seldom origi- nate from the nerves themselves, organs and instru- ments of sensation though they be; but almost inva- riably from the combinations of structure in which they severally arise. The greatest disturbance of nervous function is compatible with the soundest