Electro-galvanic symptoms, and electro-magnetic remedies, in chronic diseases of the class hypertrophy, or chronic enlargements of the organs and limbs, including all forms of scrofula, with illustrative diagrams and cases / by H.H. Sherwood.

  • Sherwood, H. H. (Henry Hall)
Date:
1837
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Electro-galvanic symptoms, and electro-magnetic remedies, in chronic diseases of the class hypertrophy, or chronic enlargements of the organs and limbs, including all forms of scrofula, with illustrative diagrams and cases / by H.H. Sherwood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    constantly covered with positive matter, and was consequently con- veyed to the surface in another direction. The heart is constructed and acts on the principle of the pump, and attracts the fluids to it with an equal intensity of force on one side with which it repels them on the other. It attracts in steady streams, but repels them with the push and pull motions. Every repulsion of a fluid in elastic bodies produces expansions, and every attraction, contractions of these bodies, and accord with a law of these forces, viz: repulsions produce expansions, and attrac- tion contiactions, with forces proportioned to their quantities in given spaces Every expansion of the heart is succeeded by a contraction of it, and every expansive force of it is succeeded by an attractive force. Every repulsion of the heart, repels or pushes the fluids in the arteries, and every repulsion is instantly succeeded by an attrac- tion, whcih pulls the fluids in the absorbent vessels called veins, and lymphatic or absorbent vessels or tubes. The motions of the pulse correspond exactly with these laws, and these motions: for every repulsion is succeeded by an expan- sion in the artery, and every attraction by a contraction of it. The same phenomena is in the hose of the fire engine when in motion. It moves in the hose from the cistern or hydrant in a steady stream to the engine, and from the engine through the hose with the mo- tions of the pulse. These motions are also beautifully and neatly illustrated by a small glass tube, about three-eighths of an inch, in diameter, and t) or 7 inches long, with a bulb at each end, one of which terminates in a point through which such a quantity of alcohol or spirits tinged with red is introduced, as will be sufficient to fill one bulb, when the aperture is closed. On placing the other bulb of this little instrument in the palm of one hand, and then shutting the hand, and at the same time elevating the opposite end a few degrees, the motions of the fluid will commence immediately, and the^e motions will be seen to correspond exactly with the pulse. It would be easy to add here a great number of isolated facts, de- duced from the experiments of a number of distinguished physi- cians, to elucidate and sustain the foregoing observations, but the narrow limits, to which I am bound forbid it, and I must conse- quently confine a further notice of them, to an extract from the London Medico-Chirurgical Review for Jan. 1837. And I should here return to a number of physicians an expression of my regard, for directing my attention to this and many others of a similar character. On tlte Chemical Properties of the Secretions in Health and in Disease; and on the Existence of Electrical Currents in Organized Bodies, in- duced by the Acidity and Alcalinity of their different Membranous Sur- faces. M. Donne, whom we have had repeatedly occasion to mention with praise, is the author of some curious—would that we could add, welk ascertained—statements on this subject. All that we propose to do, is merely to present-to our readers the lead- ing results of his enquiries. They are contained in the following coral* laries. \, The whole of the tegumentary surface secretes an acid humour.