The anatomy and diseases of the breast / By Sir Astley Cooper, bart ... To which are added, his various surgical papers, now first published in a collected form.

  • Cooper, Astley, Sir, 1768-1841.
Date:
1845
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The anatomy and diseases of the breast / By Sir Astley Cooper, bart ... To which are added, his various surgical papers, now first published in a collected form. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Lamar Soutter Library, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Lamar Soutter Library at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

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    The internal carotid branches are proportionably less than in those animals which have a larsfe cerebrum and are endued with higher mental faculties. It passes tortuously to its destination, to prevent the action of the heart fKom influencing the brain immediately. The rabbit quickly recovers from the operation of tying these arteries, and seems little affected by it: and in man, as well as in these animals, these vessels are obliterated without the de- struction of life. The vertebral arteries are much more important vessels, as regards the brain and its functions in these animals,* than the carotid arteries. The nervous power is much lessened by tying them; and, in these experiments, the animal did not, in any case, survive the operation more than a fortnight; although I do not mean to say that recovery is impossible. In the dog, also, the carotids may be tied with little effect; but the verte- brals have a great influence. The effect of the operation is, immediately to render breath- ing difficult and laborious, from the supply of blood to the phrenic nerves and the whole course of the tractus respiratorius of Sir Charles Bell being stopped. The animal becomes dull, and indisposed to use exertion or to take food. Very slight injuries, after a ligature has been put upon these arteries, will destroy life; insomuch, that if they are first tied, even dissecting for the carotids, without tying them, will cause death. The best method, in such experiments, is to tie the ver- tebrals last. On account of the importance of these vessels, they are se- curely defended by bone in the greater part of their course; and it is only below the sixth cervical vertebra that they are acces- sible. If they were exposed to pressure, death would often be suddenly produced. These arteries are tortuous, to prevent too sudden a rush of blood to the head; and they pass through foramina of bones, which prevents any great increase of their size; although they become somewhat larger than before, when the carotid arteries are tied, and vice vet^sd. Thirdly, compression of the carotid and of the vertebral arte- ries at the samS moment, in the rabbit, destroys the nervous functions immediately. This is effected by the application of the thumbs to both sides of the neck, the trachea remaining * Mr, Coleman informs me that the vessels of the horse are different; and he thinks it is designed to counteract gravitation, when the animal is feeding on grass.