On the reflex function of the spinal marrow / by Prof. Muller ; communicated by Marshall Hall.

Date:
[1836?]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the reflex function of the spinal marrow / by Prof. Muller ; communicated by Marshall Hall. 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.

    5/24 (page 5)
    tionable bv the microscopic anatomy of their primitive fila- ments. For how could this explanation be received, when at present, though we know of connexions of the fasciculi of the nerves, we are acquainted with no union of their piimitive filaments? A mere nervous connexion, therefore, without any ganglion on the part, cannot of itself in the present state of the science explain any sympathy. “ The phenomena now to be examined were observed at nearly the same time by Dr. Marshall Hall and myself. As the greatest part of the ‘ Nervenphysik,’ as here given, was completely prepared several years since, so also this Chapter on the reflected motions after perceptions, was written down almost exactly as here given several years ago. That this explanation is correct, is shown by the first part of this manual, which appeared in the spring of 1833, and which in pages 333—335*already developed thefundamental principles * “ The system of the respiratory nerves maybe thrown into morbid action, producing convulsive motions, by local stimuli in all parts which are pro- vided with mucous membranes. Stimuli applied to the mucous membrane of the nose, produce sneezing ; in the pharynx, oesophagus, stomach, or in- testines they produce the concurrence of the respiratory motions, in vomiting; while powerful stimuli in the rectum, urinary bladder, or uterus, produce a concurrence of respiratory motions in the involuntary discharge of feces or urine, or the expulsion of the foetus. Stimuli of the mucous membrane of the larynx, trachea, and lungs, nay, even a stimulus exciting a tickling in the Eustachian tube, produce cough. “ All these involuntary motions, cough, vomiting, spasmodic involuntary discharge of feces, the forced passage of urine, are produced with the assis- tance of the respiratory motions. The local stimulus here acts from the inner membrane of the viscus, on the branches of the sympathetic ramifying therein, and in the stomach, pharynx, trachea, and lungs, on the branches of the vagus which they receive, or in the nose on the nasal branch of the tri- geminus, and is reflected to the source of the respiratory motions in the me- dulla oblongata and to the spinal marrow, from which proceed the groups of respiratory motions that produce vomiting, cough, sneezing, &c. Stimuli of the nasal branches of the trigeminus produce sneezing, even when se- condary; for instance, when the stimulus of the sun’s light acts first on the optic nerves, the latter act on the brain, and the brain causes a secondary excitement of the nasal nerves and coincidently of the respiratory nerves. I, like many other persons, sneeze as soon as I see bright sunlight. Stir mulus of the vagus alone in the larynx, trachea, and lungs excites cough, that of the pharyngeal branches of the vagus and glossopharyngeal in the