New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-10-03
VIVISECTION AND IFS BENEFITS TO
SCIENCE.

| IMPORTANT RESULTS OBTAINED FROM EXPERIMENTS
| on LIVING acknowledgements AND THEORY
| IN MEDICAL PRACTICE SUCCEEDED BY CERTAIN
| TY OF KNOWLEDGE
To the Edit0r Of The Tribune.
SIR: Mr. Bergh has mentioned the names OF
Colin Sir Charles Bell, DrummoDd, Cline, Louget. Aber.
nethy, EotsOn Sir Ashley Cooper. Fleming. Carpenter,
Cuver and Johnson those Of experimental physioo-
gists opposed vvisection. Loaget the only name
that recognize belonging to this class and would
be very much obliged indeed for indication OF tho
book and in which such an opinion Is recorded by
Louget. Colin md Drummond do not remember as
names Of overpowering authority any subject Cline
Abernethy, and Sir Ashley Cooper were excellent sur
geons who had occasion to make physiological exper.
iments. Eiotspn exceedingly imaginative aud
crotchety physician but doubt whether he ever Oh
jected to vvisecton Cuvier was mere naturalist
Carpenter only writer on physiology, while sr Charles
Bell had but little occasion to make original expert
ments as he Very adroy and quietly appropriated tho
discoveries OF others. In common. doubtless with the
majority OF the medical profession. have read with
asonlshment the unjust and incorrect charges
against Bellevue Hospital and DIS. Flint and Dalton.
They just as exaggerated rs the statement that
either surgeonsi0f Psychologists sometimes wade al
most ankle deepin the curiing blood OF harmless be-
ngs." / doubt exceedingly whether DIR. Dalton mas
performed single unjustifabe or cruel expert
ment and would require great deal Of very positive
or statement convince auy important number OF thu
medical profession TO that effect.
You cannot study the operations Of the living on the
dead body and to that practical medicine
only beginning certainty under the teach
ings of experimental physiology instance the dis
covery OF the for nation OF sugar in the liver In connec
ton with diabetes but above ALL the splendid discovery
of the yasomotOr system OF nerves and the nhibtory
action Of the spinal accessory and nerves
upon the motions of the heart Diabetes as is well
known decidedly in appearance disease OF tho
kidneys exclusively in which an enormous quantity OF
sugar and water excreted from the SYSTEM 1t has
not symptom which points In any decisive manner TO
any disorder OF tue liver. Experimental physiology has
taught us that injury to certain nerves viii produce
paralysis those vasom0or nerves which preside over
the circulation Of blood In the liver, induce peculiar
congestion of this organ, which leads 20 the excessive
formation Of sugar, which the kidneys endcavor TO
eliminate from the system at the expense OF much
suffering exhaustion. We now know that the
seeming kidney disease Is preceded by very de.
cidcd arrangement OF the liver, dependent upon
anterior arrangement OF the nervous system
Diabetes is, however comparatively rare disease, and
interests very few people, but diseases OF the heart and
fevers aud innammatoDs are OF daily occurrence, anu
except for light thrown upon them by experimental
physiology would be ia the darS indeed The treat
men OF heart disease, dropsy low eyers. &c. has only
attained scientific precision from the abors Of such men
as Dalton influence OF the pneumo gastric nerves
upon the heart Is Of the most practically Important
points in the physiology OF the circulation Action or
both pneumo- gasrics usually produces disturbance OK
the respiration, which in full grown dogs soon disap-
pears but the beats OF the heart remain permanently
very much increased in frequency at eas, doubled but
they are weak inefficient, and tremuous. Hence, In
weak and very rapid action OF the heart either tunc
tona or connected with the progress Of low feyers
now exactly which nerve Is In fault The branches
OF the spinal communication with the pneumo
gastric nerves act as wheel, aud exert IN.
hbitory controlling seadying and Strengthening iofu
euce upon the Of the heart II they be lessenet
or weakened, the pulsations OF the heart become in
creased in rapidly but also essened In volume and
force The vasomoor exert q similar influence
over the blood vessels maintaining their proper tope
size and regular Sever them. and imme
dstely the arteries become weak and dilated, filled
with blood causing heat and redness, with all the APP
nearance OF severe fever, Inflammation. Such
affections were mistaken, until quite recently for
OF active congestion inflammation, aud treated
In the most disastrous way and many a one whom
love has linked to very being" has been swept away
BY facilitating measures when stimulans and tonics
were inpcratvely called for. ..
certain amount OF crude experience 10 the treatpeu
of disease has been gained by experiments on siet
people, at the expense OF much suffering anu many
deaths But thank Heaven, hundreds OF tnousahds
OF experm ents have been made on animals Win every
potent drug, and skillfu vivsecions nave peen bade
80 that the action OF remedies Is almost as well under
stood rs that Physicians now experiment OF
animals I'm To sick and suffering human beings
ami U is almost impossible to exaggerate the respect
and gratitude which sT ho h,ve sns
him the exact action Of remedies Certainty has taken
the ace of theory aud CONJECTURE aud knowledge has
crou rdeJ ant q per me nts III the bedside, JoP.
Nee Iork. Sept -. lS1A