Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-09-20


tons properly; respiration is carried
on unimpeded, except by the exhaus.
ton attendant upon all cases where
general debility is present; and the
brain is in full power. Hence. the caus.
es Of this extraordinary wasting must
be looked for otherwise than in de.
rangement OF these leading organs Of
life. If the heart were the seat of the
disease, the pulse would readily lead us
to that point If the lungs were the
cause OF this debility, the respiration
would point it out; and the face, instead
OF ITS present emaciated and tranquil
appearance, would exhibit some degree
OF lividity; (unless it were an ulcer in
the lungs, which is, by the present
symptoms, out Of the question: and if
it were occasioned by disease of the
brain, (and the only disease the brain is
capable OF producing in such state Of
the body is Melanchohia, J the accom-
panying symptoms would be sufficient
to decide.
When the case of Claude Ambrose
Seurat is called Lusus nature, / think
1t does not warrant such an appellation;
Tor IL would appear that he was born
healthy and well formed. 1t is, in my
opinion, clearly disease, ana tie ori.
gin and nature OF that disease is the OBJ
Ject OF my present remarks.
1t is said that Sir~Astley Cooper has
assigned as his reason for this disease,
that the heart is misplaced, or some
thing to that effect; now, as I did not
hear that skilful surgeon deliver such
an opinion, will not believe it, not
outstanding that powerful authority
has quoted it for Fact: If did, should
be doing him an injustice. Let the
heart be placed where it may be, q an
supposing case,) yet while it CONT
nnes to act as well as in the case Of
Claude Ambrose Seurat, it will distri-
butte its blood to the extremeties of the
body, and supply the muscles with
stream quite sufficient for their nutri-
ment, provided that the blood be of
proper quality. To the quality Of the
blood, then, we are to look for the cause,
and not to the machine (the. hearty
which propels it in its circulation.
The quality Of the blood may be al
tered by the air we breathe-it may
not be Sufficiently oxyginated; but when
this is the case, symptoms Of diseased
or malformed lungs are very evident
which is not the case in the present in
stance. The alteration Of the quality
of the blood, then, must be sought for
elsewhere; and no where, am of OPT
MON, with more propriety than in the
fluid from which it is formed. This
fluid is called chyle-that is, the first
compound made in the process of di-
gestion from the nutritive matter which
we draw from the food, for our Natural
subsistence. 1t is clear, that if this
subject could form good and sufficient
chyle, and that that chyie were taken
into the blood, through the thorsic duct,
admitting that the heart performed its
action-even the action it does per-
form, that would be enough to furnish
the muscles with nourishment sufii-
Gent TO support their natural size and
action. Hence, we come 10 the proba.
Bile and proximate cause of the disease,
namely, deficiency in the quantity of
the chyle
1t is evident that there is deficien-
CIV i'll the quantity of the chyle, by the
fact of his eating So little, and thus we
are lead to examine why he eats so lit
tie.
We see no cause for the loss of ap-
petite; no malformation of either heart
or lun. rs: therefore the stomach may
not be supposed to sympathise with
arrangement Of those parts. 1t more
likely to be the cause, or part Of the
cause, than the effect.
am fully Of opinion that this is a
case Of Marcores, oocasioned by an
early CELEBRATION Of many Of the lac
teal vessels end mesenteric glands, or
pre,ernatural deficiency Of these ves-
sells and glands, with a consequent ear
ly sympathy Of the stomach.
To explain this definition to the or
binary reader, it will be necessary to
say, that the laceal vessels and glands
are the medium through which the
chyle is taken up into the blood; thou
sands of these little vessels are employ
ed in sucking up the pure chyle pre-
pared in the intestines from the food,
and in transmitting it to one channel
called the thoracic doct, which emp
tues its contents "a white milky fluid
into the juncture between the left inter-
nal jugular vein and the left subclavian
vein. This is sufficient to give strong
idea Of my definition of the disease, and
stake my opinion upon it fearlessly.
Should we hereafter have an opportu-
nifty I'VE hope remote) Of obtaining a
correct report of the appearances after
death, it will, l am firmly Of opinion,
support my hypothesis.
Muscles must be supported by good
blood, and sufficient quantity of it
good blood must be furnished by good
chyle, and a sufficient quantity also
L L.,