FUNCTIONS OF THE SYMPATHETIC SYSTEM. 431 



sympathetic nerve in the neck (the great sympathetic was 

 frequently called the nervus intercostalis) was propagated 

 from below upward toward the head, and not from the brain 

 downward. This may be taken as the starting-point of our 

 definite knowledge of the functions of the sympathetic sys- 

 tem, though the experiments of Petit only showed the influ- 

 ence of the cervical portion upon the eye. 1 In 1816, Dupuy 

 removed the superior cervical ganglia in horses, with the 

 effect of producing injection of the conjunctiva, increase of 

 temperature in the ear, and an abundant secretion of sweat 

 upon one side of the head and neck. 3 These experiments 

 showed that the sympathetic has an important influence on 

 nutrition, calorification, and secretion. In 1851, Bernard 

 repeated the experiments of Pourfour du Petit, dividing the 

 sympathetic in the neck on one side in rabbits, and noted, 

 on the corresponding side of the head and the ear, increased 

 vascularity, and an elevation in temperature, amounting to 

 from 7 to 11 Fahr. This condition of increased heat and 

 vascularity continues for several months after division of the 

 nerve. 3 In 1S52, Brown-Sequard repeated these experiments, 



1 PETIT, Memoire dans lequel il est demonlre que les nerfs intercostaux four- 

 nissent des rameaux qui portent dts esprits dans les yeux. Memoires de Vacademie 

 royale des sciences, Annee 1727, Paris, 1729, p. 5, et seq. 



2 DUPCY, Versuche iiber die Wegnahme des ersten Halsknolens des Ganglionner- 

 ven bd Pferden (Aus Leroux's Journ. de Medec., t. xxxvii., 1816, pp 340-350). 

 Deutschcs Archiv fur die Physiologic, Halle und Berlin, 1818, Bd. iv., S. 105, et 

 seq. 



We have been unable to consult the article by Dupuy in the original, but the 

 reference in Meckel's Archiv gives a full account of the experiments and conclu- 

 sions. In one experiment, it is stated that, after removal of the ganglia on both 

 sides, in a horse, already feeble and emaciated, the face and ears became hot 

 and moist. Dupuy does not seem to have attached much importance to the ele- 

 vation in temperature. In his conclusions, he states that " the consequences 

 of destruction of the ganglia are, constriction of the pupils, redness of the con- 

 junctiva, general emaciation, as well as oedema of the extremities and a general 

 cutaneous eruption. The ganglionic nerve appears to have a great influence 

 upon nutrition." 



3 BERNARD, Influence du grand sympathique sur la sensibilite et sur la calorifi- 

 cation. Complex nndus de la societe de biologie, Paris, 1851, tome iii., p. 163. 



128 



