Herrick, Modem Algedonic Theories. 17 



sensory apparatus for desire {Lust) seems to the author unnec- 

 cessary for he explains that it is the cessation of pain which 

 produces desire. Desire is in general the more intense the 

 more aversion {Unlusf) is decreased ; in this connection, too, it 

 must be taken into account how rapidly the aversion dimin- 

 ishes (and this, at least partly, by contrast effect). 



As at least suggestive along this line we notice that Cavaz- 

 zani' records an interesting and valuable observation, illustrating 

 the fact that different fibres exist in peripheral nerves for the 

 conduction of different sensations, a fact often shown experi- 

 mentally and symptomatically in certain diseases, but only rare- 

 ly with such positiveness as in Cavazzani's case. The ulnar and 

 median nerves were divided at the elbow by an injury. Nine 

 months afterwards the ends were re-united. Eight weeks later 

 normal sensation had returned down to the wrist. In the hand, 

 temperature and muscular (pressure) sense were each markedly 

 impaired, and in certain fingers, in very different degree, accord- 

 ing as the fingers were supplied by the median or the ulnar 

 nerve, leading the author to conclude that the ulnar nerve car- 

 ried a less number of fibres for temperature sense, the median a 

 larger number for pressure sense. There was also evidence of 

 the disassociation of temperature sense, since in certain parts of 

 the hand, particularly the end of the middle finger, only cold 

 was felt, while sensation for heat and touch was totally lost. 



In connection with Cavazzani's observations, appropriate 

 mention may be made of a paper by Weir Mitchell,^ describing 

 a rare phenomenon in a clinical example of crossed thermo- 

 anaesthesia, — left side of face and right side of body. Tact and 

 pain sense were both normal, as were also taste, smell and hear- 

 ing. The symptoms developed as a result of apoplectic seizure. 

 Mitchell was unable to find any record of a similar case, Bre- 

 mer^ writes in support of the theory of a central or cerebral 

 pruritus, dependent upon morbid nutritional changes in the cor- 



'Schmidt's Jahrbiicher, Leipzig, June 15, 1893. This and the two follow- 

 ing abstracts are taken from the Annual of the Universal Medical Sciences, 1894. 

 '■^Medical Chronicle, March, 1893. 

 •''Review of Insanity and Nervous Disease, Dec, 1S92. 



