Experimental researches into a new excretory function of the liver : consisting in the removal of cholesterine from the blood, and its discharge from the body in the form of stercorine (the seroline of Boudet) / by Austin Flint, Jr. ; illustrated by three plates containing fifteen figures.

  • Flint, Austin, 1836-1915.
Date:
1862
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Experimental researches into a new excretory function of the liver : consisting in the removal of cholesterine from the blood, and its discharge from the body in the form of stercorine (the seroline of Boudet) / by Austin Flint, Jr. ; illustrated by three plates containing fifteen figures. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

    27/68
    will be seen by Exp. 4 that there is 4.134 per cent., and in Exp. 5, 6.308 per cent, of increase in the cholesterine in the passage of the blood through the inferior extremities, and probably about the same in other parts of the muscular system. In examining these tissues chemically, we find that the muscles contain no cholesterine, but that it is abundant in the nerves; and as we have found that the proportion of cholesterine is immensely increased in the passage of the blood through the great centre of the nervous system, taken, as the specimens examined were, from the internal jugular, which collects the blood from the brain and very little from the muscular system, it is rendered almost certain, that in the general venous system, the choles- terine which the blood contains is produced in the substance of the nerves. If this be true, and if, as I hope to show, the cholesterine be a product of the destructive assimilation of nervous tissue, its production would be proportionate to the activity of the nutrition of the nerves; and anything which interfered to any great extent with their nutrition would diminish the quantity of cholesterine produced. In the production of urea by the general system, which is an analogous process, muscular activity increases the quantity, and inaction diminishes it, on account of the effect upon nutrition. In cases of paralysis we have a diminution of the nutritive forces in the parts affected, especially of the nervous system, which, after a time, becomes so disorganized, that although the cause of the paralysis be removed, the nerves cannot resume their functions. It is true we have this to a certain extent in the muscles; but it is by no means as marked as it is in the nerves. We should be able then to confirm the observations on animals, by examining the blood in cases of paralysis; when we should find a very marked difference in the quantity of cholesterine, between the venous blood coming from the paralyzed parts, and that from other parts of the body. With this in view I made analyses of the blood from both arms in three cases of hemiplegia, which seemed to me most suitable for such a comparison. Case I. Sarah Rumsby, set. 47, affected with hemiplegia of the left side. Two years ago she was taken with apoplexy, and was insensible for three days. When she recovered consciousness she found herself paralyzed on the left side. Said she had epilepsy four or five years before the attack of apoplexy. Now she has entire paralysis of motion on the affected side, with the exception of some slight power over the fingers, but sensation is perfect. The speech is not affected. The general health is good. Case II. Anna Wilson, set. 23, Irish, affected with hemiplegia of the right side. Four mouths ago she was taken with apoplexy, from which she recovered in one day with loss of motion and sensation on the right side. She is now improving and can use the right arm slightly. _ The leg is not so much improved, because she will make no effort to use it, Case III. Ilonora Sullivan, Irish, aet. 40, affected with hemiplegia of right side. About six months ago she was taken with apoplexy, and recovered consciousness the next day, with paralysis. The leg was less affected than the arm, from the first. The cause was supposed by Dr. Flint,