ABSTRACTS FROM FOREIGN AND AMERICAN JOURNALS. Structure of the Ganglia of the Spinal Nerves. By RUDOLPH WAGNER. (Comptes Rendus, May 10th, 1847.)— The discovery of the true structure of the ganglia, or at least of the ganglia of the spinal, trifacal and pneumogastric nerves is an important one for the physiology of the nervous system. I found the same conformation first in the torpedo, and afterwards in the ray and shark. Each elementary fibre which comes from the root of a cerebral or spinal nerve is prolonged into a ganglionary globule, (nervous corpuscle) in which a nucleus and nucleolus may be seen. From each ganglionary globule another nervous fibre arises, which extends into the peripheric branches of the corresponding nerve. Sometimes the medulla of the fibre is seen clearly to penetrate into the ganglionary globule itself; at others, more delicate nervous fibres arise from them, and the primitive fibres gradually enlarge and assume the ordinary appearance. I was astonished, continues Dr. W., at this structure of the ganglia, which must certainly be the same in man and the other vertebrata. This discovery will change our views of the physiology of the nervous system, and the course we have pursued. But anatomy will always be the basis of physiology. Experiments on the Properties and Functions of the Spinal Cord and their relation to those of the Muscles. By M. BROWN SEQUARD. (Comptes Rendus, May 10th, 1847.)— From experiments on frogs, M. Sequard shows that after the division of the spinal marrow, the animal retains the power of contracting thẹ muscles of the posterior extremities; that the strength of the contractions diminished for some time after the division, but that it gradually increased, and at two hours after the operation, the contractile power is twice as great as before the operation. Twenty four hours after, it is three times as great as before; it remains at this from five to twenty days, and then gradually declines to below the natural standard. The force of the contractions was measured by weights attached to the feet by small hooks. The experiments were instituted to test the independent action of the spinal cord as a generator of nervous power, as proclaimed by Marshall Hall, and fully confirm it. Are the movements of the Heart dependent on the Spinal Cord and Brain? By Dr. JULIUS BUDGE. (Gazette Med. de Paris, June 5th, 1847, from Arch. Fur. Physiol.)-After passing in review the whole subject, historically and experimentally, Dr. Budge arrives at the following conclusions: 1. The Medulla Oblongata is the central organ of the movements of the heart, inasmuch as it maintains the irritability of the voluntary muscles. 2. The Medulla Oblongata is also the central organ of the reflex movements of the heart; but its influence is not marked, because 3. The movements of the heart are principally movements of irritation, and partake very little in the reflex movements of the rest of the body. 4. The ganglia of the sympathetic nerve are not the central organs of the movements of the heart, they neither produce nor keep up its rythm ; but appear to destroy the influence of the voluntary and reflex principle. 5. The brain (of the frog) has no direct evident influence on the movements of the heart, but a decided indirect influence. On the Comparative Weights of Organs in Natives of India and Europeans. By E. A. PARKES. (Lond. Med. Gaz., May, 1847.)-The results contained in the paper are derived from twenty-three observations in male Asiatics, chiefly Hindoos, and thirty-eight European soldiers. The tables show a considerable preponderance of weight on the part of the Europeans, in the following proportions (the weight in the Hindoos being taken as unity:) of the cerebrum, as 1 to 13th; the cerebellum as 1 to 14th; the right lung, as 1 to 14th; the left lung, as 1 to 14th, nearly; the heart, as 1 to 14th; the liver as 1 to 1; the spleen as 1 to 1; the pancreas, as 1 to 1rd; the right kidney, as 1 to 1; and the left kidney, as 1 to 1. As the weight of organs in the same race and sex varies according to the age and the height, it is necessary to reduce these conditions to the same standard. (Tables are given of these particulars.) 588 Abstracts from Foreign and American Journals. Age and height being equalized, the disproportion between the two races is reduced, but not entirely got rid of. Assuming the weights in the Asiatics to be as unity, they are to the Europeans, as follows: of the cerebrum, as 1 to 14th; the cerebellum, as 1 to 1th; the right lung, as 1 to 11th; the left lung, as 1 to 12ths; the heart, as 1 to 11th; the liver, as 1 to 13ths; the spleen, as 1 to 11; the pancreas, as 1 to 13ths; the right kidney, as 1 to 14d; and the left kidney, as 1 to 1, nearly. After considering these points at some length, and deciding that the differences between the weights in Europeans and Asiatics are not attributable to differences of height, age, or unfavorable hygienic conditions, on the part of the latter nation, the weights in the Asiatics are examined more in detail. As from the tables given in the paper it appears the inferiority of the weights of the organs of Asiatics is not attributable to differences in age or height, the author thinks it a fair inference, that the form and general conformation of the body-such as the respective length and extremities, &c.—are the circumstances which exert the greatest influence on the size and weight of the several organs-i. e., the inferiority in weight is explained by reference to inherent differences of race and nation. What, then, is the cause of the difference? Is it to be presumed (the author inquires) that this is acquired from the peculiar mode of living, the usual food, the accustomed occupations, and the several influences of climate and situation? Professor Owen regarded the details laid before the Society as of the greatest interest. Such inquiries were much neglected, but he hoped that the Society would give them every encouragement. The observations of Dr. Parkes, regarding the influence of vegetable diet on the size of the liver, was corroborated by what we observed in the mammalia, for it is well known that the ox, camel and other graminivorous animals, had livers smaller in proportion by one-eighth than those animals which fed on animal diet, as the lion and tiger. These facts also established the accuracy of the able reasoning of Liebig, respecting the influence of diet. The value of researches similar to those of Dr. Parkes were dependent on the number of our observations, and the extent of the basis on which they were formed. On the Term of Utero-gestation in Man and the inferior Animals. may possess interest for some readers. My attention having been di. rected to the subject by a little incident occurring in my neighborhood, I was led to consult authorities on the term of utero-gestation, and I found not a little discrepancy of opinion. I then commenced keeping a note book of the term in some of the domestic animals, and the following results, relating to the Cow, are submitted: In six hundred and twenty-one Cows, fifty calved between two hundred and sixty and two hundred and seventy days; five hundred and fifty-six, between two hundred and seventy and two hundred and eighty days; fourteen, between two hundred and eighty, and two hundred and eighty-six; one, only, went two hundred and ninety days. Five hundred and fifty of the cows were observed to have the mucous discharge, more or less, for twenty-four hours previous to calving. All that were noticed seemed to be very restless for twelve or fourteen hours previous, and when labor came on seemed to have regular pains. Most of those that calved short of two hundred and seventy days, were heifers with their first calves; and all of them that went over two hundred and eighty days, were old cows with large abdomens. The conclusion from these observations is, that a cow seven years old, and well built, will most probably go two hundred and seventysix days. The following experiments were made to ascertain the importance of the condition of heat in the same animal:-A two year old heifer was subjected to involuntary intercourse twice, and kept separate for the rest of the year. Conception did not follow. This experiment was tried in three instances with the same result. The actual duration of the term of gestation in the human subject was ascertained in the following cases: aged 19, duration 272 days, first confinement. aged 30, first confinement, duration 276 days., aged 17, duration 270 days. aged 44, seventh confinement, duration 284, the child weighing fourteen pounds. Effects of Saliva injected into the Veins of a Dog-Hydrophobia. By Dr. WRIGHT. (B. and F. Med. Review, Jan. 1847.)-"Four drachms of slightly alkaline saliva, sp. gr. 1·010, were injected into the right external jugular of an old mongrel dog. Immediately after the fluid had passed, the animal uttered a loud yell and struggled violently; the heart palpitated with vehemence, and respiration became very hurried and irregular. When six minutes had elapsed, and the severe effects had subsided, other four drachms of saliva were inject ed. The heart's action again became so quickened that I was unable to number its beats; the pupil was contracted; the abdominal muscles underwent a strong spasm; and there was slight convulsion of the whole frame. At the expiration of ten minutes, the injection was repeated; it had the effect of increasing, but not remarkably, the action of the heart and lungs; the spasm of the abdominal muscles returned, and a quantity of bile and frothy mucus was ejected by vomiting. When thirteen minutes and a half had elapsed, an abundance of tur. bid urine, and fæces mixed with blood, were passed severe tenesmus succeeded, accompanied also by slight priapism. At the expiration of twenty-five minutes, when the system was comparatively calm, the pupil a little dilated, but sensible to light, and the heart beating seventy-two strokes per minute, I injected the remaining four drachms of saliva into the vein. The symptoms which attended the first injection instantly recurred, but with increased violence, and continued, with trifling remissions, for nearly four minutes, after which time their severity subsided. At the end of forty minutes, there was slight convulsion of the whole frame; an offensive slimy dejection was passed, to all appearance involuntarily; and shortly afterwards, about half a pint of bloody urine escaped in a similar manner. When three hours had elapsed, the animal seemed to be tolerably calm and comfortable; he ate a little meat, and lapped milk and water: he was then left for the night. It was observed on the following morning that he had made a great quantity of water, and that he had been purged and vomited several times. He now looked drowsy and stupid; his eye was dull, watery, and injected; he was disinclined for sport and exercise; he ate little, but drank abundantly; respiration natural; pulse 86. In three or four days the animal recovered his usual hearty and lively habits, and little notice was taken of him until the morning of the fifteenth day succeeding the experiment, when he was observed to look drowsy and dejected; his eyes were peculiarly downcast and inflamed; he refused to stir when called, and when approached, he uttered a growl expressive of anxiety and anger; his nose was dry and warm; paws cold; respiration irregular and quick; pulse 94. He lapped water or milk, but refused solid food. He continued in this state throughout the day, passing one very offensive, dark, slimy stool, and voiding at several efforts a great quantity of turbid bilious urine. On the following morning, the symptoms of the previous day were much aggravated; the dog growled and snapped at everything, living and lifeless, that approached him. My assistant in alarm ran away, |