The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-11

The essay on the Diseases of Momoru,
translated from the French Of Tn. RDoT which
forms the latest volume in the International
Scientific Series tAppcton's) is an invcs-
tiGation OF mncmonic phenomena from
a pathological point Of view the nor
nal phases of rcminiscence being only dis
cussed so far as to bring out clearly by
comparison the effect of those cerebral dsor-
ders which result in partial or total forgetful-
ness. The various kinds Of impairment suf-
fered by the faculty OF recollection are illus
tratcd by large number Of peculiar and in
tcrestng cases gathered from a wide field Of
research.
1t was pointed out long ago by psychologists
that memory is a twofold process, comprising
a conservation and a reproduction. 1t Is the
object OF this treatise to show that the first Of
these processes. conservation. depends es-
pecially upon the physiological function Of nu-
triton. while the second reproduction. is de-
pendent on general or local circulation. The
power Of conservation presupposes primary
condition that may be vaguely described as a
normal constitution OF the brain. Idiots are
the subjects OF congenital amnesia. that is to
say Of an innate inability to fix impressions.
Again. fatigue in any form. superinducing as
1t does an abnormal cerebral condition, is dct-
rimental. and sometimes fatal to memory.
Explicit testimony on this point is supplied
by tho experience OF Sir II. Holland.
who descended. on the same day, two
very deep mines In the Hartz Mountains. re-
naming some hours under ground in each.
He tells us that while in the second mine. and
exhausted both from fatigue and hamilton. he
found it utterly impossible to talk longer with
tho German inspector who accompanied him;
every German word and phrase deserted his
recollection. and it was not until he had taken
food and wine and been some time at rest
that he regalned them. The cases where that
amnesia have been observed to follow cerebral
shock are also explained by most Psychologists
as resulting from defective nutrition. DIR.
Beattie relates that one of his friends. having
received blow on the head. lost all his knowl
edge Of Greek. although his memory was other
wise unimpaired. Carpenter cites the case of
child who. having received a severe blow on
the head remained for three days unconscious.
On coming to himself he was found to
have forgotten all that he had learned of
music. AS rule 1t Is the latest acquisitions
that are temporarily lost through cerebral
shock. but sometimes the most perfectly organ
lied and stable recollections momentarily dis
appear. while more recent impressions remain
intact. Thus surgeon who was thrown from
his horse and remained for some time insensi-
bio described the accident distinctly upon his
IccONcly, put llIee uHyh lulleu 10 TeCOlltcI
the existence OF his wife and children. null
titude OF facts are quoted to prove that disease
Of memory in its gravest form-the progressive
amnosia OF domentin. old age. or general pa
| ralysis-is caused by an increasing atrophy Of
the nervous elements In such conditions the
capiarics and cells seem to undergo dcGener-
alton. the latter finally disappearing and lenv-
ing in their place only ineffective debris. There
Is in short, between nutrition and conserve
ton the relation OF cause and effect.
Though there seems. upon the whole. reason
for believing that the reproduction OF impress
sions depends upon the circulation. yet tho
data for this conclusion are as yet very incom-
plete. 1t cannot DO gainsaid that the re-
productive faculty Ia not completely governed
by the general circulation, being affected rather
by tho clrcumscrlbed circulation in the brain.
and here again there are probably local vara-
| tons OF great interest We must also consider
| tho quality OF tho blood M we'll as tho
quantity. 1t is we'll known. for instance. that
! In some men whose power OF repro