, 1874-04-12
RROWN-SE0UARD ON ECIENCE.


BROWN -SEQUARD ON SCIENCE.
The concluding lectures OF Dr.. Brown-sequard
at Boston havo abounded in curious facts in
medical science. The Doctor believes that the
muscles can move Independently Of the nerves
or the brain. He once cut of the arms OF two
decapitnted men. About fourteen hours after,
Ill signs Of life diod out Of the arns- Then
fresh blood Was Injected into both, in one case
from man, in the other from dog. The mus-
cles OF both moved violently. The arm which
had received human blood WAS at least four
times as strong es it had boon during
life. The almost completely decomposed eye OF
an eel showed muscular irritation under the in
fuence Of light sixteen days after it had been
taken from tho body. The muscular movement
Of the heart may continue some time after all
nervous action has ceased. The heart OF
man decapitated ut Rouen beat for thirty-six
hours after tho execution. Tho heart OF
q dog has beaten for forty eight hours
altar it Ean rananrnd frn..a -tha fandy-
"Eyery muscle in our system, as well as in
anmals, can. in certain circumstances, have per-
feet rhythmica1 movements" Herbert Spencer
has treated this fact in philosophy and Emerson
in poetry. The proofs already given Ct muscular
action Independent Of the nerves have all been
drawn from involuntary mechanical movements.
Examples are not wanting Of the other Sort
Apparently voluntary movements have been
performed without tho aid Of brain or nerves.
DR.. Brovn-Sequard WAS called upon once to cure
dead man. His friends would not believe he
WAS dead, ind no wonder, for he Lifted his arrns
at full length above his face, knit his fingers as
Il he woro in prayer, dropped his arms, aepa-
ratcd them, md did the Same thing again and
again. Yet tho man WAS uudeniably dead The
movement grew slower and slower and finally
ceased. Disease causes extraordinary freaks
bcforo as we'll as after death. young
WOMAN in Paris had fits OF religious
ecstacy every Sunday morning. 1t pre-
cisely 10 o'clock, she would balance herself
on her back on the edge OF her bed, keep the rest
of her body perfectly motionless and pray to the
Virgin Mary. The position WAS an impossible
one for person in health. 4 most beautiful
Irish girl" whom tho lecturer knew, had re-
ceiyed blow on the head which made her walk
in hnlf circles. II she wished to go east, she
started north, and SO finally tackled around to
her destination. Save for this curious incapaci-
| ty, her health WAS perfect
The imagination plays queer tricks with tho
| body. DR.. Brown -Soquard regards this fact "a
| the foundation-stono Of mcsmerism. The meg
h-- ovo;+;po +ha i'm. u;n a+1nn arts m fha
| body and 80 moves the muscles and cures dis
| case. The fact that nesnerized and appar-
emily unconscious person can tell the time indi-
/ Gated by watch held at the back OF his head,
| man be explained by referring 1t to tho came
mysterious faculty which gives almost every per-
son the power OF waking up at any hour. One
! who can do this must in some way tell time In
his aleep. 1t is not tho process Of mesmerism,
| then, which gives him this power. The imagina-
ton is great medicine, either to kill OF cure
It may almost wholly destroy sensation. The
convulBionai1es OF st. Medard trampled each
| other under foot in the most violent manner,
| but they were rarely hurt. One Of these Sisters
Of Charity was knocked down and tramp}ed upon
| by dozen persons, and suffered no pain what
ever. When the use Of ether became generally
| knoEn, it stopped a prnctice that WIS gaining
| ground among good surgeons OF exciting the
ine gination Of patients until they were oblivioua
Of pain. This was unfortunate. 1t is much
eas5er to use ether, but much more dangerous.
The other process is perfectly harmless. The
imagination can change the effect Of medicine
A theological student, who thought ''pill meant
pu sgative, looked up the word in his dictionary
and. found a description Of pill composed o1
two strong astringents. Ho took it, and il
| acted as d purgative. Bread-crumb pills
taken with faith, haro had The came result. 1
| nrrse in French hospital gave 100 patiant4
sume harmless medicine and then told them she
had BY mistake administered to them aponerfu
emetic Some eighty Of them became very sick
sea-aick;oess is generally caused by the imagina
ton !: \ man Who heard violin while he ~