Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1837-01-10
From Combe's Physiolqgyof Digestion
CAUSE AND Laws OF HUNGER.


The sensation Of hunger is commonly
referred to the stomach, and that Of thirst to
the upper part of the throat and back Of the
mouth; and correctly enough to this extent,
that certain condition of the stomach and
throat tends to produce them. But, in re-
ality, the sensations themselves, like all other
mental affections and emotions, have their
seat in the brain, to which sense of the
condition ofthe stomach is conveyed through
the medium of the nerves. In this respect,
Appetite resembles the senses of Seeing,
Hearing, and Feeling; and no greater diff
Guilty attends the explanation of the one
than of the others. Thus. the cause which
excites the sensation Of colour, is certain
rays of light striking upon the nerve of the
eve; and the cause which excites the per-
cepton of sound, is the atmospherlcal Vi
bratons striking upon tie nerve of the ear;
but the sensations themselves take place in
the brain, TO which, as the organ Of the
mind, the respective impressions are con-
veyed. In like manner, the cause which
excites appetite is an impression made on
the nerves of the stomach; but the feeling
itself is expressed in the brain, to which
that impression is conveyed. Accordingly,
Just as in health no sound is ever heard ex-
cept when the external vibrating atmosphere
has actually impressed the year, and no
colour is perceived unless an object be pre-
sen.ed to the eye,-so is appetite never felt,
except where, from want of food, the s:om.
ach is in that state which forms the proper
stimulus, to its nerves, and where the com.
munication between it and the brain is left
free and unobstructed.
But as, in certain morbid states Of the
brain and nerves, voices and sounds arc
heard, or colours and objects are SEEM
when no external cause is present to act
upon the ear or the eye,-so, in disease, a
craving is often felt when no real want Of
food exists, and where, consequently, indul
gence in eating can be productive Of nothing
but mischief. Such an alteration is com
mon in nervous and mental diseases, anG
not unfrequently adds greatly to their sever
itv and obstinacy. In ndolent unemployed
persons, who spend their days in medita
ting on their own feelings, this craving il
very common, and from being regarded
and indulged as if it were healthy appetite
is productive of many dyspeptic affections.
If the correctness of,he preceding cxpla
nation of the sensation of hunger be though
TO stand in need of confirmation, | woul(
: refer to the very conclusive experiments b!
Bracelet of Lyons. as setting the question en-
tirelv at rest. Bracelet starved dog TO
twentv.iour hours, till it became ravenously
hungry, after which he divided the nerve
which convey 10 the brain a sense of th'
condition of the stomach. He then placed
food within its reach, butthe animal, which
moment before was impatient to be fed
went and lay quietly down, as ifhungcr ha'
never been experienced. When meat wa'
brought close to it, it began to eat; and, ap
parently from having no longer any con
scousness Of the state of its stomach
whether it was full or empty-it coiltlnuc'
to cat till both it and the gulIct were inordl
na,elv distended. In this, however, the DO!
was evidently impellcd solely By the gratiG
! cation ofMescnso cF tHsI": t;,r on r"nIov!n,,