Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1853-08-20
.ylrrla,. Medical and Surgical Js.r..l.

'ttrgintA uedieai ana cufktcai Jourual"
We are in the receipt Of the August No. of this
periodical The typographical execution is very good,
and IL we were judges, we might add, that the editO.
rial duties are equally well performed.
We notice that the editors touch upon the Difficult
ty, which has arisen between the Trustees of Hamp-
den Sidney and the Medical School here. While
they are in favor Of some schemeby which the stand
ard ofmedical qualification shall be raised, they differ
iH toto from the Richmond doctors, who seek that
end by placing the Medical College under tho absolute
control of "a s~ectarisn and self constituted Board,
guiltlesS Of any knowledge Of medical subjects
They think election by the profe sorS preferable to
that mode. This is no doubt n correct view-and
yetit does not 10 justice to the question now in con-
trOverSy. That queS ion is not what might have
been beSt-but what was the understanding or agree
HcHt between, the Hampton Sidney Trustees and
the medical professors. That agreement, whether
oral or written, mi~; govern here. If the Trustees
did agree-as is fully proven by DIR. Draper and DIR,
Carroll-that the virtual appointment should bt with
the PROFESSIONALISM settles the question. The Trus-
tees, as men of good tiith, must abide by their own
agreemc 1t.
We copy from the Journal a very interesting ex-
pertinent, made by DIR. Cartwright of New Orleans
which will put the readers faith to the test. 1t is the
most searching Investigation into the mystery of the
vital principle, We have ever read of
Decisire Experimental roofing that the CHIEF Kotire
Porer 81 the Blood is dericei from ResPirdtion.-
BY DIR. CARTWRIGHT, OF New Orleans.
While writing this article, June 18th, 1853, there is a
living witness, in the court yard of my Office, proving the
ruth of the doctrine taught by Moses, that the life of the
flesh Is derived from the blood, and the physiological prin-
ciple, announced some years ago by Mrs. Emma Willard,
that its chief motive power il derived directly and imme-
diately from respiration. The witness is a live crocodile,
upwards Of six feet in length, and about two feet in circum.
.r,nr Can E.t, H,,af,w n"t m II -. "a -.
terday crawling about the ward. DR.. Il. Bowler and some
other physicians aud individuals have seen it oday. 1t
has been visited by a number of scientific men ever since
the 18th instant. On that day, at ten minutes OF 10
O'Clock, A. NJ, its tTachea was tied in presence of Drs.
Dowler, Backec, Copes, Wharton, and several others. Tho
temperature Of the room was 81 deg, that OF the reptiles
body IS deg. In twenty minutes after the legation IL fell
into a state of asphyNis. Bt soon the liver began 10 act
spontaneously, and it had some four or i've copious dejec-
tons from the bowels. As the purging progressed il be-
gan to recover from the ~asphyxia, and at length sprang
from the table and snapped at the by.standers. II was
supposed that these unlooked-for phenomena might be ow-
ing To the trachcl not being sufficiently secured TO prevent
the admission Of air into the lungs. Two additional Hga-
lures we're placed upon it. Yet the heaviugs of the chest
aud a sound resembling respiration continued TO he oh
served. This proceeded, no doubt, from the consumption
OF the atmospheric air stored away in the large air-sacs,
which are known to exist Ia the lungs OF the sluriau tribe
OF animals, and some Others that can remain under water
a long time without breathing. The airsacs suSNer the
purpose OF diving. bells. After the carbonic acid, retain
ed in the blood by the compression OF the trachea, WAS
thrown oil by the spontaneous action Of the liver, the air
rs HN me- N' N"'A'" aA'A hNA-t NN1 sAtlNiEiN |
70 support a low degree of vitality. With a view Of com
pressing the sides OF the air-sacs together, 20 prevent the
air therein from being used 10y the lungs, and the
carbOnic acid from escaping, tie abdomen, chest and
c!oaci were compressed hy a blndsge. The bi"il-c /
was applied 81 II o'clock, and in a few minutes she
/ reptile again fll into u state Of a-uhvNia. At hall
after IL O'Clock ERE was sppliei to tho most sensitive
parts 81 the Ooiy. Some slight ~tNitchiug Of the muscles |
followed the application, proving that aensaiiou and uus-
cular i%rritIbiiiy were not Wholy'ies.Toycd Al his stage |
VI the experiment tha company left - visit Prot. R,iiel!s |
chemical laboratory TO witness an experiment the Prolcs-
sors brother was making. Al fifteen minutes after l.
- clock the company rrs-srmllel, having been absent
three qiar;ers Of "a hour, snd found the crocodile dead.
Muscular %irritabilty seemed u be entirely dcstrovci.-
Fire was repeatedly applied to the most sensitive parts OF
the body, and no; 4 sirSle movement, tFitch Of symptom
OF vitality could Be elected thereby. Alter ten minutes
had been spent 20 enable The gentlemen present - ty tx
pe1HenS 90 ,y'o'ta .ywptci- l! vitality, agl Ter they !
49,. az rJnvl.ctG themselves tta- Inc a'E.s, was certainly
leai, ip~.0cerdcl, az .gcnty. hvc GI.nufes are. - oclcck. |
TO make a dissection, and 10 expose The abdominal aad
thoracic viseerA TO vieS. The whole extent Of tie aldo
men aud ihoriA vas laid open. \ Grass iUction wss also
made, ant the anterior ana lateral Valls ortla LnrrX ar. /
abdomen vas fastened back Jy hooks, 20 as 20 bring tM- /
lungs, liver, bowels, ami the sac containing the heart,
under the direct action Of the senses Of s'Eht aud toucl-l
NJ tSitch or the smallest Indication uf le va, ELECTED hy |
the dissection. iAr animal hal been previously unbound. |
AMI lay on ts t1ts-a dead subject undergone d....r
uon. A. length The pcricgg..--n was slit open by AL mel
sion five niche, in lcuEt1-eypos..E ,Ec heart and its an |
rcie 70 view. Ga exposing the htHt % Tie external air.
aud taking it into tN' hand, slight witch s. OF mu,cul.-
con;TacLons, eight time. 10 q minute, We're il.
A. half after - O'Clock, more than two saI halt hours
AFTER tur IstuDg, i~nsuldltcI was commenced by inserting !
the nozzle ct acommon Sod ire belo~- into the ulrlcs.
A. tis stage Of tle process Of insult riJB, IN .Inut e.. /
minutes, appeared 10 begin 10 chang. the tissue. Of fa /
reuctNir rcIFork oi the lung % = brighter color. This
va supposed, however, 10 De- owing ,,rle 5.-.c. action u
ihf 'S'eIhaI 4' O.. .N' neiubr ttrs. At length ,Iaa blood
vessels, barely visible, began to be seen on the exposed
-'Ii-ccr "Heir none you.I pc seen t~.ia.c-prJgug t.sf
the blood was in motion through the pulmonary i..sIs--'
Ihc heart was Nov FELT, and lie pu'sfrous bal become
much stronger sud had increased Gom eight To- ei.Lieea /
oSit' ID = m'"I's. Tie installation wa steadily perseg,T-