The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-13
Dr.. Rrowu-Sc4uGra E'.liGhfcnss he Stn
cinnati Doctors on Epilepsy.
From the Commercial, l0'

The eminent French psychologist ProfcS'
sor Brown-Scqlmrd was introduced to the
Academy of Medicine, at its regular weekly
meeting last night. 10y Professor G. Comcgy>
who. in presenting linn to the ncwly-elccteG
President of the Academy, Professor james
Graham, said: "By happy fortune we have
now in the presence OF The Academy gen
tlcman whose long. patient, and honest labors
have enriched physiological and PATHOLOGY
cal science with numerous and brilliant dis
coyeries. believe that his genius, integrity.
and magnificent success cHlitle him to the
gratitude, admiration, and regard of man.
kind"
The distinguished visitor appears to bc
about fifty wears old, with tine, bale, ilorld
countenancc, and an eye in which health anu
intellect sparklcs, especially in the animation
Ct speech and conversation.
Tie significance of DR.. Brow1l-Sequard t.
the noble profession of medicine, and Tho
high respect shown him in this city, arr
found in the fact that he holds the chair Of
Comparative and Experimental Pathology III
the Medical Faculty OF the University OF
Paris, and that he is regarded by the profess
sion II, the highest authority in those impor-
1ant branches OF medical science.
In acknowledging the compliment con-
weed in the introduction Dr.. B.oWn-Sc-
ulard assured the Academy that he MIS
sensibly moved by the terms Of eulogy, and
hoped therefore to be excused If he exhibited
the embarrassment he felt. lie did not pro-
pose to deliver lecture on the occasion, but
simply to present d few facts for the benefit
Of his hearers. lie had for many years di-
rected his attention to epilepsy, and found
from experiments on the lower animals that
carbonic acid gas forcibly injected into the
larynx arrested the convulsivc action of the
limbs, produced, say, by strychnine. The
mechanical force OF the gas combined with
its effect on the nerves produced the result .
In applying this remedy to patients he
ascertained that although not SO successfully
applied rs in the instances of the animals,
yet it had the effect to shorten the paroXysn1
several minutes. That is, q paroxysm of thir'
teen minutes usual duration will be shortcn
five minutes, and that is matter of material
importance. He also asccrtained that the
force of the attack was lessened. He did moi
care who obtained credit for the discovery
but he Was very happy in the opportunity 81
mentioning the fact to an American audience
and especially to one in Cincinnati, to whict
he said he would be frequently drawn in the
future. His experiments were made up t
within few days before leaving Paris, anG
he has come here direct.
In the patient a series Of fits is apt to fol
low the first attack, but he found immunity
following prompt administration Of chloro
form.
The eminent gentleman gave the Academy
anumber OF clseS in detail, but his peculiar
enunciation Of the English language pre-.
vented any except those thoroughly familiar
with physiological technology from that full
and perfect understanding which any attempt
ut reproduction, in print especially, would
demand, and there is, therefore, only the
most meagre outline attempted i'll placing
the valuable facts and ideas before our read
ers.
In 1857, in Paris, he made a discover,
through a negro servant that was worthy O
mention. A gentleman had an epileptic fit
The negro directed the great toe to be pulled
and twisted, which caused al almost imme
date cessation of the convulsiye motion o.
the limb.
Punching, rubbing, and otherwise roughly
handling the arms and legs and using the
Igature, produce the irritation of the nerves
which arrests the convulsive action. En-.
periments in this way proved to him that il
was not in preventing something going to
the brain, but in sending something TO it,
which prevented the epileptic attack, pro-
vided the effort is made before consciousness
is lost in the attack
lie knew sciatica cured by burning or eau
terizlng the ear. In brief, to the nearer ull.
Versed in the noble science SO ably repre-
sented by DIR. Brown-Scquard, it appeared
that his discovery Of treatment for epilepsy
hes In producing irritation Of the peripheral
nerve by the direct application of carbonic
gcid gas.