322 ENDOCRINE GLANDS 



IV. ASTHMA. Symptomatic asthma observed in trachio 

 bronchial adenopathy and in aortitis is due to an irrita- 

 tion of the vagus. During an attack definite symptoms of 

 vagotonia are present; increase secretions, slowing of the 

 pulse, dermographia. The attack of asthma is prevented 

 by atropin, paralyzing the vagus, or by suprarenalin 

 stimulating the sympathetic. 



V. ANGINA PECTORIS. This can be brought about 

 not only by a lesion of the coronaries but also by a nervous 

 lesion, neuritis or neuralgia of the cardiac plexus. Sympa- 

 thetic syndromes are to be found in the vaso-motor, 

 secretory and pupillary reactions. Certain patients show 

 during the attack extreme pallor, a sensation of coolness, 

 numbness of the extremities with cyanosis, profuse cold 

 sweats, together with a marked dilatation of the pupils. 

 The pneumogastric can also act causing pharyngeal, 

 esophageal spasms and vomiting. 



VI. TABES. Visceral crisis of tabes constitute one 

 of the most marked reactions of the vegetative nervous 

 system to lesions of the roots. We can interpret as 

 evidence of a general hypervagotonia : myosis, laryngo- 

 spasm, paroxysmal abdominal pain, muco-membranous 

 diarrhea, gastric crisis. Rectal, ovarian and testicular 

 crises are evidence of the parasympathetic stimulation. 



The work of J. Ch. Roux has brought out the histolog- 

 ical lesions of tabes on the sympathetic, which consist of 

 a decrease and even disappearance of the myeline fibres 

 of the sympathetic. It is not to be wondered that these 

 lesions of the sympathetic disturb the equilibrium between 

 the two systems to the advantage of the vagus which 

 causes the symptoms we have mentioned. 



VII. G ASTRO INTESTINAL NEUROSIS. Vagotonia plays 

 an important part in gastro intestinal pathology. It is 

 characterized by motor and sensory disturbances of the 





