Selected monographs.

  • Kussmaul, Adolf, 1822-1902.
Date:
1859
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Selected monographs. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by UCL Library Services. The original may be consulted at UCL (University College London)

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    after the left artery has been tied, seldom later. In every experi- ment, without an exception, the heart continued to beat vigorously for some time after the last breath. In some instances we could^ with the stethoscope at the chest, hear the pulsation of the heart even half an hour afterwards, or through the open cavity of the abdomen see it beating on the other side of the diapliragm. ihe diaphragm of the rabbit is so transparent, as to allow the situation of the adjacent thoracic viscera to be clearly seen. In tins manner it can always be readily ascertained when an has entered the pleural cavity. j i, When the thorax was not opened, the heart seldom ceased beatmg before the tenth minute. If the heart, which had throughout been over-fiUed with blood, was exposed to the aii- after pulsation had temporarily ceased, it began to beat again in aU its parts even a quarter and half an hour after the last breath. In a full-grown gray rabbit it even continued beating vigorously after the lapse of an hoiK, not- withstanding the hind legs had become rigid immediately after the last breath. The same phenomenon was observed by Dr Mayer, Bonn, who has pubhshed, in the 'Act. Phys Med.-Acac. Ca.s. Leopdd. Carol.,' of the year 1833, t. xvi, . p. 68, his anatomic.- physiological researches on the brain, spinal marrow, and nerves, wherein he gives an account of numerous experiments on the com- presdon of L carotids in dogs, rabbits, a horse, a goat, and a dove. After having tied the left subclavian artery and the innominate artery frraLt complete paralysis of diately took place, followed by strong tetanic ) shocks of the trunk ItaLn ofVe pupils, and death i^seH witlnn a ^^^^ xninutes after, the animal havmg remamed m the stiffness ot ^ ten minutes, the heart still beat eleven strokes a minute. XsHases offer a striking exception to the ordinary rule, ac.ord- ing to which the left heart is usually P— —. Jf^ every instance, however, the left ventricle died before t e otti 1 part 7the heart, contracting itself, and becoming pale and rigid, the .davenc ^^^^^ hind than m the fore leg 1^;^*^^^^ the animal was r TirX - of t cTebral and muscular powers tfirt^r^Ct^— with remarkable rapidity in a