The antidotal treatment of the epidemic cholera / by John Parkin.

  • Parkin, John, 1801-1886.
Date:
1883
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The antidotal treatment of the epidemic cholera / by John Parkin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    anomaly presented to us, of a complete suspension of the functions over which the ganglionic system of nerves presides ; while those under the control of the cerebro-spinal system remain free and intact. This immunity, however, is only observed during the first three stages of the disease; in other cases, and in certain latitudes, in which the consecutive fever super- venes, the functions of the brain are disturbed, the same as in other forms of fever. The cause of this variation, I shall not now attempt to discuss, but content myself with referring those interested in the subject to the physiological part of a former edition of this work, in which this phenomenon has been considered. Not only may we conclude, that this disease is the immediate efi'ect of a suspension of those functions over which the ganglionic system of nerves presides, but, also, that this effect is produced from the injurious operationof an extraneous substance in the body ; as we should be at a loss to explain the sudden and complete annihilation of the vitality of these nerves on any other hypothesis. More than this, we may also infer, that the poisonous element is contained in the circu- lating fluid; not only from the conclusion before drawn, that the poison enters the system with the inspired air, but, also, because we should be unable to account for the production of all the phenomena witnessed in this disease, except on this supposition.