Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-01-10

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ed on with indifference, and made no at
tempt either to follow the dish or to proven
/ its removal.
Precisely similar results ensucd when
the nervous communication between the
stomach and brain was arrested by the ad
ministration ofnarcotics. A dog suffering
from hunger turned listlcssly from lis food
when few grains of opium were ntrodu'
ced into its stomach. 1t may be said thai
such result is owing to the drug being
absorbed and carried 10 the brain through
the ordinary medium of the circulation; but
Bracelet has proved that this is no: the case,
and that the influence is primarily cxerted
upon the nerves. TO establish this point
two dogs of the s;tme size were selected.
In one the nerves of communication were
left untouched, and in the other they were
divided. Six grains of opium were then
given to each at the same moment. The
sound dog began Immediately to feel the
effects Of the opium, and became stupid,
while the other continued lying at the fire.
side for long time, without any unusual ap.
pearance except little difficulty of breath
ing. In like manner, when the experiment
was repeated with that powerful poison nur
romica, upon two dogs similarly circum.
stanced, the Sound one fell instantly into
convulsons, while the other continued for a
long time as if nothing had happened.
These results demonstrate, beyond the
possibility of doubt, the necessity ola free
nervous communication between the stom-
ach and brain, for enabling us to experience
the sensation Of hunger. The connexion
between the two organs is, indeed, more
widely recognised in practice than it is in
theory; for it is a very common custom
with the Turks TO use opium for abatng
the pangs of hunger when food is not to be
had, and sailors habtually use tobacco for
the same purpose. Both substances act
exclusively on the nervous system.
The relation thus shown to subsst be.
tween the stomach and the brain, enables
us. in some measure, to understand the in.
fluence which mental emotion and earnest
intellectual operation exert over the appe.
ti.e. A man in perfect health, sitting down
to table with an excellent appetite, receives
a letter announcing an unexpected calamity,
and instantly turns away with loathng from
the food which, moment before, he was
prepared 10 eat with relish while another,
who, under the fear Of some misfortune,
comes TO table Indifferent about lood, will
eat with great zcs! on his "mind being re-
lieved," as the phrase goes, by the receipt
ofpleasiag intelligence. III such cases, no
one will imagine that the calamity destroys
appetite otherwise than through the medium
of the brain. Sometimes the feeling OF
loathing and disgust is so intense, as not
only to destroy appetite, but to induce sick.
ness and vomiting,-a result which depends
so closely on the state of the brain. that it is
often induced even by mechanical injuries
ofthat organ.
The analogy between the external senses
and the appetite is, inavarous respects, very
close. If we are wrapt in study, or intent on
any scheme, we become inscnslblc to I'M
pressons made on the ear or eye. A CLOCK!
may strike, or a person enter the room
without our being aware Of either event.
The same is the case with appetite. 1.-THE
mind is deeply engaged, the suggestions OF
appetite are unperceived and unattended TO
-as was we'll exempliied in the instance OF
Sir Isaac Newton, who, from seeing the
bones Of chicken lying before him, tancled
that he had already dned, whereas, in re-
alitv, he had eaten nothing for many hours.
Herodotus ascribes so much efficiency TO
mental occupation in deadenns the sense
ofhungcr, that he speaks of the inhabitants
of Lydia having successfully mad recourse
to gaming as partial substitute for iood,
during famine of many years continu'
ance. In this account there is, of course,
gross exaggeration; but it illustrates suftl'
ciicn!ly we'll the principle under discussion
Ifthe body be very actively exercised
and good deal of waste be effected by
perspiration and exhalation from the lungs
the appetite becomes keener, and more ur.
gent for immediate gratifcation; and if il
is indulged, we eat with relish unknown
on other occasions, and afterward expert
ence a sensation of bien.etre or interna
comfort pervading the frame, as if every
individual part Of the body were imbuet
with feeling of contentment and satisfac
ton, tho very opposite of the restless dis
comfort and depression which come upor
us, and extend over the whole system, wher
appetite is disappointed. There is, in short
an obvious and active sympathy between
the condition and bearing OF the stomach
and those of every part ofthe animal frame
in virtue of which, hunger is felt very
keenly when the general system stands il
urgent need of repair, and very modera,ely
when no waste has been suffered. Thu
principle is strikingly illustrated during re
covery from q severe illness. "ln conva
lcscencc from an acute disease" as is wei