CIRCULATION 557 



in the waking condition of the body, or, say, two-thirds of 

 life only. 



To enable the great neuro-dynamic generator and dis- 

 tributor, the brain and cord, or cerebro-spinal centre, to 

 perform its work, free from disturbance from without and 

 from within, it is housed, so to speak, in a disturbance- 

 proof retreat, within the domain, and under the influence 

 and innervation, of the sympathetic nervature, surrounded 

 .and inter-penetrated by an aseptic and hygienic fluid, 

 which is responsive to every mechanical impression from 

 within and from without, and possessed of the power 

 mechanically to take up, and remove, all material residual 

 products, begotten of neuronal waste, or due to neuroglial 

 overplus from neuronal non-utilisation. 



The hydrostatics and hydro-dynamics involved in the 

 local and general disposition of the cerebro-spinal fluid 

 within the sub-meningeal spaces, the cerebral ventricles, 

 the central canal of the cord, and inter-neurilemmar sheath 

 spaces of the nerves, sensory and motor, are nothing short 

 of the first importance in the maintenance of cerebro- 

 spinal and neuronal functional completeness and structural 

 integrity, as well as physiological hygiene, within the 

 precincts of the systemic nervous system, hence any local 

 or general lapse, intrinsic or extrinsic, of them may lead 

 to the incidence of pathological phenomena, and the 

 development of clinical or morbid entities. 



While the disturbed hydrostatics and hydro-dynamics 

 of the cerebro-spinal fluid may thus give rise to mechanical 

 conditions, productive of pathological and clinical results, 

 alterations in physical and chemical qualities and bacterial 

 interferences with its essential characteristic of asepticity 

 may originate a category of diseased conditions nothing 

 less than astounding, which, therefore, calls aloud for 

 the closest study of those engaged in the fields of practical 

 neurology and psychological medicine. 



In whatever part of the organism we may study the 

 phenomena of circulation, we will find that the primary con- 

 dition of physiological health therein is based on the constancy 

 of that circulation in its normal ordered and forward flow 

 or movement, and that the first sign of pathological change 

 is found in, or to emanate from, stasis, or regurgitation, 



