A STUDY IN MORBID AND NORMAL PHYSIOLOGY. 57 



the handle forward so as to direct the point of the knife against the base of the 

 skull, taking care in doing this to throw the point of tlie knife to one side so as to 

 avoid the basilar artery. Having steadied the knife against the skull, withdraw 

 the point one or two lines so as to avoid the meningeal vessels, and make a sweep- 

 ing cut. By this procedure the medulla is readily separated from the pons, but no 

 care can ensure the basilar vessels from injury. The cerebellum is of course wounded 

 to some extent, but my experience shows that this has no influence upon the result 

 so far as the thermic or other appreciable symptoms arc concerned. 



The following experiments exemplify the efl'ect of section of the medulla high 

 up, upon animal temperature. 



Experiment 46. 

 A large powerful mongrel dog. 



KE5IARKS. 



Since last note, the skull lias been opened ul)ove the foramen magnum with a tre- 

 phine; in doing this a sinus has undoubtedly been wounded, as the dog has lost 

 fully three-quarters of a pint of blood. I have just severed the medulla. 



Breathing regular. 



Thermometer put into the abdominal cavity. 



Cardiometer connected with the femoral artery. Arterial pressure 75 ; upon galvani- 

 zation of a sensitive nerve it fell to .50. The pneumogastric nerves were ne.xt cut ; 

 pressure after this was 45-55; on galvanization of a sensitive nerve the pressure 

 rose to 65. The breathing was very much affected, and paralysis both of sensa- 

 tion and motion seemingly complete. Animal killed. 



Autopsy.— MeduWa, oblongata divided at it.? junction with the pons. Cerebellum wounded. 



Experiment 47. 



A very powerful lotig-liaired dog. 



Time. Eect. Temp. EEM.\KKS. 



2:18 P. M. IOG^.8 F. Pog has been struggling aud fighting most violently, hence his high temperature. 



2:19 Section made. 



2:25 1078 



2:30 106.9 



2:35 107.0 



2:50 107.4 



3 107.9 Pog killed. 



Autopsy.— Jjeh side of the medulla separated from the pons, except the anterior llbre.s. Right 

 side, superior one-quarter cut through. 



8 April, 1830. 



