136 BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS 



outcome of the implication of the pituitary excretional 

 mechanism. We may further conceive, and, when obser- 

 vation and experiment have tested the value of the 

 conception, we are persuaded it will be found true, that 

 many of the other sensory disturbances originating in, and 

 disposed throughout, the sympathetically innervated areas 

 of the body will be found to depend on the existence of 

 similar obstructive phenomena in the final distribution, or 

 elimination, of the sympathetico-systemic lymph within the 

 texture and parenchyma of the parts and organs involved. 

 Thus pneumonia, endocarditis, gastro-enteric catarrh, some 

 hepatic, splenic, and renal troubles, may stand as types of 

 the diseased conditions and sensory disturbances directly 

 traceable to excretion of effete and tainted cerebro-spinal 

 lymph along the pneumogastric and connected sympathetic 

 nervature, when an exit has been denied it through the 

 usual systemic exits, and when, in consequence, it has 

 followed the lines of least resistance, until it has finally 

 been disposed of, as here indicated, freely, or interruptedly. 

 Contemporary with, or subsequent to, the occurrence 

 of these cerebro-spinal lymph exit sensory phenomena, a 

 local, or general, hyperaemia, or sometimes inflammation, 

 may show itself at, or around, the points of exit, and 

 become the diseased condition for which relief is at last 

 sought. When such is the case it will behove us to note 

 particularly the order and manner of etiological sequence 

 and morbid development of the disorder, so as the more 

 scientifically to obtain the "key to the situation," and 

 thereby to obtain proper indications for treatment. We 

 are convinced that we are warranted in stating that it 

 would not be too great an estimate of the frequency of the 

 relationship of disturbed cerebro-spinal lymph excretion 

 to modified, or morbid, sensory phenomena, were we to put 

 it at fifty per cent., and it may well be much more, of the 

 whole negative and positive departures from the standard 

 of normal physiological assthesia ; therefore, we are strongly 

 of opinion that great practical results are likely to follow 

 from a recognition of the intrinsic value of this estimate 

 in the work of diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of 

 disease, and that, moreover, by it a clearer light will be 

 shed on the character and nature of some of the most 



