Southern telegraph., 1836-07-15

could n1l exists admitting that &c could, Ia
I IcrgaSed action ought 60 commence as soor
as ihe blood begins 70 accumulate. Thu
action Of the heart being weakened, couges
lcn tll0Ws as consequence. As The arte
ries and capiIlanes force The Llood out a
them, e accumulates 10 the rcna cara an,
It's branches, II this nervous influence b,
not afforded to The heart in greater abund
ance than It possessed previously to the ac
cumulailon, now could the heart ever senC
on the blood which has accumulated anc
when reaction Is established, why does the
heart act SO viOlentlyl The heart often
seems to make violent efforts to remove the
congestion, but this never happens untilthe
hraln and nervous system have partially,
or altogether, recovered from the shock il
has sustained from the original deloterious
impression; then the heart is made to re-
act. Ii is evident that fever is caused by a
primary local impression. Hence it follows
that all fever is symptomatic." All causes,
whatever be their nature, act on the brain
or nervous system primarily. In fever, the
brain and nervous system, having sustained
the shock Of the original deleterious inn
preston, ceases, to greater or less degree,
10 afford the heart the influence it derives
from this source, necessary 10 enable il to
perform its important function. Congestion
follows as a consequence Of weakened ac-
ton of the heart, as the arteries and capil.
lOries rid themselves of the blood. Per
haps some may say this susceptibility to
impression, Or power of action, does not
appear to be withheld, as some organs are
active, when the action of the heart is weak,
and congestion exists. Others may urge,
that, in the cold stage of fever, the action of
the caPellanes is proof that this influence
is afforded, as usual, by the brain, to the
heart and other organs. This appears TO
be owing to one part of the brain and ner.
vous system sustaining more injury from
the primary deIeterious impression than
another, or it may be that one part sustains
more injury than another from congestion,
depending on its locality and extent. For
instance, in cholera the intellect is frequent
Iy strong, whilst the physical powers are
prostrated, the action of the heart weak.
&c. which shows that the portion of the
brain and nervous system, upon which the
physical powers are dependant, is more af-
iected than that portion through which the |
mind acts. AS l wish not to be misunder-
stood here, | will explain what is meant. IrI
a cause act on the skin, all parts of the sys-
tenn do not feel the shock to the same ex-
lent. But, the impression being conveyed |
to the brain, certain parts Of the system suE.
Ter more than others, prObabl V, TO certain
exteut, on account Of their more immediate
dependence on that portion Of the brain to
which the deleterious impression is convey
ed BY sympathy. In epiIeptic convulsions,
the mental faculties are very much de-
pressed, whilst the muscular and circula-
tory systems are active, which shows that
all parts Of the brain and nervous system
do not suffer the same amount of injury
from the same cause. But, increase the |
congestion so as to affect that portion of the |
brain and nervous SYSTEM upon which the
circulatory and muscular systems are de. |
pendnut for their principle of action, and
they also cease to perform their functions.
If weakened action of the heart be caused |
by the effect Of the remote cause upon the
brain and nervous system, the influence
necessary to enable it to perform its func-
tions properly not being furnished, then con-
gestion follows as consequence Of weak
encd action of that organ. Here the quere
arises, how is reaction to be accounted for?
The brain and nervous system has the
power, to certain extent, Of resisting inlu-
'ious impressions made upon it. lfthe ori-
ginal deleterious impression acts SO power
uly upon the brain and nervous system
hat it is unable to rally, the patient sinks as
consequence. In some cases reaction Is
lever established, and The patient sinks, all
lie powers Of the system apparently ex-
lausted. There are two causes by which
he congestive stage may be protracted, or
eaction even prevented. The original de-
eterious impression may produce such a
powerful effect, that the conservative power
s overcome.t If the poison Of bilious fever
,r cholera is very concentrated, it must act
with great force, and consequently its pa
-aIyzing influence, if may be allowed the
on the brain and nervous sys-
EN-, is so great that it is not able to rally,
md the patient sinks. In proportion us the
action of the heart is weakened, the arteries
ind capiIlaries forcing the blood out of
hem, it accumulates in the uenG cara, and
is branches, which accumulation, if it be
,reat, must greatly oppress the brain and
nervous system, and thus their capabiity
If rallying still further essened. And al
hough the conservative power might have
,een able to,overconae the primary injurious
Impression alone, yet congestion, when pre-
ent to:a certain extent, is sufficient alone
0 battle its ,exertions, to prevant reaction,
md destroy life. Here are two enemies to
70 encountered, The one from without, the
,ther within, and if the former strike with
yreat violence, the latter must do great in
ury, and the result is death, without reac-
ion.