Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1874-04-16
THE IIYING BRAIN.
Extrs,Ordlil 'nry Experiments In :, Cincinnati
Hospital.
From tho Troy Timcs

ny LIZ. lsODefC nnfChOlOW. The victim.
if that be a proper word to be used in
this connection, was woman about 30
years Of age, who, owing to an accident
i'll childhood, was suffering from mn in
curable cancerous affection of the head
which had resulted in the destruction
Of the bones Of the occiput to such an
extent as to leave a portion of both
of the brain exposed.
Knowing, as he did, that instances have
occurred in which the brain was pene-
trated by foreign substances, and por-
tions of it even lost, without infiicting
obvious injury, DIR. Bartholow deemed
this an excellent opportunity to test the
effects OF electricity upon it. Procuring
some exceedingly fine needles, he ins,s-
lated them to near the point, 80 that
the electric current entwhenapplied, should
beconfin:sd to Il smallextento of substance,
and inserted item at various times
during three weeks, into the brain, to
a depth Of from one twelfth of IN inch
to III inch and half, and applied
Faradic current (whatevert that may bel,
the weakest that could be used. Some
curious results were obtained. The
first point demonstrated was the abso-
Lutte insensibility of the d,tro mater, or
membranous covering of the brain, and
of the brain substance itself near the
surface. The patient, though fully
conscious and in the possession of her
faculties, was wholly insensible to the
presence of the needle. At a certain
depth of penetration sensation was ap-
parent, not in the brain itself but in the
extremities, chiefly in the hand and arm
opposite the hemisphere of the brain,
which was the locality of the expert
ment. When the needle was inserted
deeply into the left hemisphere, for
instance, a painful tingling was occa-
stoned in the right arm and hand, and
gice versa. Similar phenomena were
observed when the needle was connect
ed with q galvanic battery, the pain in
the arm and hand was intensified, and
distinct muscular movement ensued.
Application of q strong electrical cur
rent caused "unilaterial epilepsy of the
opposite side, of great violence" The
patient, whose case was hopeless one,
finally succumbed, and the question
whether she might have lived longer
but for DIR. Bartholow's practical devo-
tion to scientific inquiry remains an
open one. It was r,ised at O meeting
Of medical and surgical experts, before
which the doctor described the history
of this remarkable case, one evening
last week, and the general impression
seems to have been that the woman was
injured during those three weeks of
empirical research. DR.. Bartholow
said, in answer to inquiries, that after
her death he made an examination,
which showed that the brain substance
was destroyed along the course taken
by the needle and he added that with
the knowledge he now had as to the ef-
feet, he would not repeat the expert
ments. There seemed to be difference
of opinion among the assembled doctors
as to the justification of venturing upon
measures which might possibly shorten
the life of patient, merely in order
that the stock of medical knowledge
might be increased. The general i'm
preston, however, was that where re-
covery is impossible, and the patients
consent is given, such experiments may
properly be made. With that conclu-
sion we shall not quarrel, but our opin-
ion is that nothing of the sort should
be attempted without the express con-
currence of the persons most nearly in
terested.
Social Usages.
There are some details of social usage
that are so childish, and, withal, so in
convenient and bnrdensome, as to de-
mand public denunciation. Nobody
likes them, everybody desires to be re-
ieved of them, and all seem to be pow
erless to reform them. Their burden
someness forms O serious bar to social
intercourse, and their only tendancy is
to drive men and women out of society
altogether, and to worry and weary
those who remain subject to them.
A person is invited to an 'sinformal"
reception. Special pains may be, and
often are, taken 10 impress him with
the idea that such q reception is, in
deed informal" The idea is very
good. The proposition is to bring to-
gether circle of friends in a familiar
way, without expensive dress on the
part of the guests, or an expensive
entertainment on the part of the hostess.
1t is an attractive sort of invitation, but
woe to the man or woman who accepts
it according to its terms. The man or
woman who attends in anything but
full evening dress will find themselves
singular, and most uncomfortable.
They have taken their hostess at her
word, and find, instead of a party of
familiar friends, who can sit down and
enjoy an hour of social intercourse, a
highly dressed "jam" which comes
1oko or1 Io,oo>.%u 1o%> on6 which finds
itself treated to IN elaborate supper.
People have, at last, learned that if
there is anything that must be dressed
for elaborately, it is an informal recep-
tion," and there is really no greater
cheat than the invitation which called
them together. The consequence is
that we have really no informal gather
ings of men and women in what we call
'society."
Again, when we invite guest to din
ner at six, we expect him to come at,
or before, that hour. It is counted the
height of impoliteness for a guest to
keep dinner waiting moment. This
is just as it should be; but when we in
vite guest at eight o'clock, to q recep-
ton or party, what then? Why, we
do not expect him until nine, we do not
ordinarily get him until half past nine,
and are not surprised at his entrance at
any subsequent hour before the compa-
ny breaks up. Why the rule should be
good for the dinner that is not good for
the assembly does not appear, except
that in. n.the case of the dinner it is a
question of hot or cold soup that is to
be decided. At eight the host and host
ess are in their vacant rooms, be-gloved
and waiting. They aretheref for an hour,
wishing their guests would come. At
last one makes his appearance, and with
a guilty look whips up stairs. Then he
waits until another joins him, and an
other, and another, and so at last he de-
scends. All have lost the only oppor-
tunity they will have for pleasant
chat with those who have invited them
lost, indeed, the only chance they will
have of look ut the flowers, at the pic
lures, and the enjoyment of an undis-
turbed chat, with comfortable seats and
surroundings. All dread to be first.
and SO all wait, and thus thrust far into
the night their hour of departure. The
company that should be at home at
eleven, and in bed at half-past eleven,
do not find their beds until one the next
morning.
10 the man of business such hours as
mingling in social life imposes are SIM
ply killing. They are the same to
women who have family duties to per-
form. They wipe the bloom of youth
from the cheeks of girls in from one to
three seasons; and thus social life in the
great cities. instead of being Il blessing