The morning call., 1894-05-31
A NUT FOR THE DOCTORS TO
CRACK.

On Tuesday next, June 3, the American
! M edical Association will open four days
congress in this city. While much of the
! time of the meeting will necessarily be de-
voted to matters concerning the profession
! exclusively, it may be hoped that doctors
| W i'll find leisure to explain some points In
the progress of medical science in language
which the layman can understand. Some
of the branches of that science touch the
public so closely that every one knows
something and wishes TO know more
about them. The congress will afford the
faculty an opportunity Of impartIng in
formation that will be gratefully re-
ceived
The subject Of the brain overfOws with
Importance and interest 1t is only within
few years that we have learned that each
cOnvolutiOn and each portion of each con-
vOlutioD of the brain affects especially
some particular organ in the body. Thirty
years ago Broca of Paris demonstrated
that the faculty of articulation depended
on the posterior third Of the in
ferior left frontal convolution; in other
words that wound in a certain part of
the forehead would deprive the sufferer of
the power to articulate. In late years
anatomists have argued that the power of
speech may in certain cases depend on
other frontal lObes: but Broca's demon
stration remains unchallenged. the whole
brain being liable to be affected by LESSONS
of the conVolutiOn he indicates. Science
has gone further. It is known that pres
sure on particular parts Of the brain will
paralyZe certain portions of the body, as
the right arm or the left leg and it is in
terred that these organs derive their life
from the department of the brain with
which they are connected; whence, in a
case of injury 10 a particular spot in the
forehead. the practitioner may determine
the extent to which the brain is involved
by examining the little finger of one hand
tor signs of insensibility.
1t will be perceived even by the layman
that the discovery of THIS intimate connec-
ton between certain parts of the brain
and the nervous system of certain organs
OF the body opens the door for an entirely
new system Of diagnosis and therapeutics.
Among common diseases of the day are
paralysis and epilepsy. AS a rule they
are incurable by the old methods of treat
ment. But IL they proceed from a lesion
or malady IN certain part Of one of the
convolutons OF the brain 1t would seem
that they will hereafter be treated by a
surgical operation on the diseased portion
OF the brain, and that they may be cured
by removing the cause of their ailment
This practice is being adopted in tie East
and in the cities of Europe with results
which are often satisfactory
The largest field which is opened TO
study by larger knowledge of the nature
and functions Of the encephalon is the
subject OF insanity. Speaking broadly,
insanity and idiocy are caused either by
congenital deformity Of the brain or by
injuries to the brain caused by accident or
by neurotic weakness, which may cause
the brain to cease to WORK or 10 work
badly under circumstances which would
not affect vigorous nervous system.
Where the brain is def0rmed at birth and
the distribution of the conVolutions is
abnormal surgery will rarely be able to
cure the defect But where a blow or
fall has caused a lesion that may be re-
paired by surgical appliances. and where
neurOtic weakness is the source of the
troubles, it may be possible to assist nature.
We are only just beginning to learn how
far the surgeon can safely use the knife on
the cerebral tissues and what treatment
can be hopefully essayed in dealing with
nervous disease. Still science is making
progress. 1t is only a few years since
Dupuytren declared that death must fol-
low the Introduction of bistoury into the
substance of the brain. and the connection
between the volition and the nerves and
between the nerves and the muscles is
almost as much of mystery as ever.
Insanity is a disease which is growing
in this country. Statistics show that the
number of persons who are confined in
asylums increase pro rata more rapidly
than population. This may be due to the
fact that the insane are more uniformly
confined in asylums than they used to be.
But there is no doubt that one hears Of
more mad people nowadays than formerly.
The ignorant ascribe the growth of the
disease to consanguineous marriages and
to the excitement reused by the fierce pur-
suit Of wealth. In point Of fact the in
crease, if increase there be, is probably
caused by an epidemic OF physical dis
orders of the brain structure. just like the
periodical epidemIcs of disorders of the
respiratory system. and when we know
more about the brain doctors may be able
to hold it in check, as they hold in check
hrouabific