The misapplication of anaesthesia in childbirth, exemplified by facts / by G.T. Gream.

  • Gream, G. T. (George Thompson), 1812?-1888.
Date:
1849
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The misapplication of anaesthesia in childbirth, exemplified by facts / by G.T. Gream. 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.

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    was very different from what it had been before his late attack. By the advice of the author of the paper, lie left home for about three vreeks without his wife. On his return the desire for sexual intercourse had abated, and from this time was gradually lost. He was subsequently seized with a second attack, and shortly afterwards died. Dr. Marshall Hall expressed doubts, and explained facts con- cerning his doubts, as to the seat of the sexual passions being in the cerebellum ; be thought it was in the medulla oblongata, but still, he observed, that if the median lobe of the cerebellum was irritated, it would necessarily communicate the irritation to the medulla; so that, in fact, as regards the ultimate effect, it matters not whether the irritation is directly applied to the medulla, if that is the seat of sexual desires, or the middle lobe of the cere- bellum. Dr. Marshall Hall evidenced partial and complete strangulation, as a proof of the effect through the medulla of causing sexual excitement, with erection, emission, &c.; and he stated that the profligate sensualist had made use of partial strangulation for the purpose of creating sexual excitement. Dr. Carpenter mentioned a case in which a man, advanced in life, became the subject of satyriasis to such a degree, that he would even practise masturbation in the presence of females— his own sister, for instance; and after death a tumour was found, of the size of a split pea, in the pons varolii. Here, then, is ample evidence of the fact, that irritation of the cerebellum will produce sexual excitement, and it is irritation, caused by the dis- tension of blood-vessels in the cerebellum, that gives rise, in some cases, to indecent dreams, and actions in accordance with them, when persons are under the influence of chloroform. The similarity of effect between chloroform and disease, will be shown by again referring to the case related by Mr. Dunn ; in this, the sexual passions, having been highly excited to a degree per- fectly unusual in the subject of them, were subsequently ren- dered powerless and altogether lost. Now, I have in my posses- sion the letter of a gentleman of high reputation, who writes:— I might here allude to a letter which I received some time since from Mr. , of , who tells me:—'In four cases I have to notice a singular effect produced by chloroform—it was a total deprivation of the sexual ap- D