Observations on functional affections of the spinal cord and ganglionic system of nerves, in which their identity with sympathetic, nervous, and imitative diseases is illustrated / by William Griffin and by Daniel Griffin.

Date:
1834
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Observations on functional affections of the spinal cord and ganglionic system of nerves, in which their identity with sympathetic, nervous, and imitative diseases is illustrated / by William Griffin and by Daniel Griffin. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    CHAPTER II. AFFECTIONS PRODUCED BY IRRITATION OF THE CERVICAL PORTION OF THE SPINAL CORD. It seems so difficult to account for the interruption of the functions of parts, except by structural lesion or alteration, that it is not singular we should be very incredulous when called upon to believe the ordinary actions of every organ of the body may be affected, either by preternatural in- crease or diminution, or total suspension, without the oc- currence of any physical change. Hence it is that some pathologists deny altogether its possibility, asserting, with great truth, that, in a system so little admitting of minute examination as the nervous, most important changes may take place, and yet elude all observation. But, in speaking of functional disease, we believe, it is generally meant such affections as are not traceable to altered structure, and which admit of a perfect, and sometimes instantaneous, return to health. Whatever may be our reasoning, we have every day the indisputable fact before us, that people become suddenly attacked with symptoms resembling those resulting from organic changes, and yet as suddenly recover their original health, in a way which such changes would not seem readily to allow. These complaints may, perhaps, be said generally to depend on altered relations in the system, rather than on altered structure ; and it is on this supposi- tion that they have been so often attributed to vague and inscrutable sympathies. But, however mysterious they may