Diseases of the spinal cord.

  • Bramwell, Byrom, Sir, 1847-1931.
Date:
1882
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Diseases of the spinal cord. 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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    AN INTEODUCTION TO THE DISEASES OF THE SPINAL COED. CHAPTER I. THE ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY OF THE SPINAL SEGMENT. § 1. Until quite recently the affections of the spinal cord were generally looked upon as so obscure and difficult as to baffle the understanding of any but the most accomplished specialist. Thanks, however, to the labours of Leyden, Charcot, Erb, Gowers, Buzzard, and others too numerous to mention, the difficulties are rapidly disappearing, and in a short time we shall probably be as well acquainted with the diseases of the spinal cord as with any other affections to which the human economy is liable. In attacking any complicated clinical question the diffi- culties are very much reduced if we enter upon our work with a clear idea of the functions of the affected organ, and with a definite plan of study; and to no group of affections does this statement apply more forcibly than to the diseases of the spinal cord. The spinal cord may be said to consist of a series of segments placed one above another. Each segment com- prises the portion of cord to which a pair of spinal nerves is attached (see fig. 1); and each segment may be viewed as a distinct spinal unit, or, to speak somewhat figura- tively, as a distinct spinal cord for a definite area of the body, viz., that portion of muscle (muscular area) to which its anterior roots proceed; and that portion of skin, ten- don, muscle, mucous membrane, viscus, etc. (sensitive area) A