128 REPORT — 1873. 



nerve) are flooded with blood, the inhibitory fibres ai'e thro'W'n into action and the 

 heart's contractions lowered. In hypertrophy of the heart the OTerjrroNvn organ is not 

 so readily reined in , and so apoplexj^ is commonly found along with this heart-change. 

 In otlier cases, again, the blood-supply of the brain is defective, and then the brain is 

 crippled. This was well seen in the case of a youth with congenital heart-disease, 

 who came under the writer's notice, where the horizontal posture, so as to fill the 

 head with blood, was necessary in order that the youth niiglit learn or repeat his 

 pieces of poetry. In medical practice the intimate association of heart and brain 

 is well known, and in a large proportion of the cases of insanity distinct changes 

 in the circulatory system are found. Where there is great cerebral hyperemia, the 

 ordeal bean of Calabar, which stimulates the inhibitory fibres of the vagus, and so 

 holds back the heart, is found to be the most efic;ctive agent in controlling the 

 violent mania of high cerebral vascularity. On the other hand, in cases of heart- 

 disease the character commonly becomes altered, the resolute person becoming 

 A'acillating and capricious, the even-tempered person growing irritable and sus- 

 picious. The effect of heart-disease on character is well seen in old Peter 

 Featherstone in ISIiddlemarch ; and the vacillation of that obstinate old man 

 betwixt his two wills shows how the brain halts and lacks its wonted determination 

 when its arterial blood-supply is defective. The sensations of a patient in the 

 great hospital of Vienna, whose heart stood still at intervals from the pressure of a 

 tumour on the inhibitory nerve (the vagus), were described. Such is a part of the 

 negative evidence of the relation of heart and brain; for tlie positive evidence we 

 must turn to the records of the sporting world. Eclipse, the famous racer, and 

 Master Magratli, the noted courser, two animals reno^vned for their tremendous 

 endurance even more than for their speed, were both examined after death to see if 

 any thing could l^e found to explain their peculiar prowess. In each an unusually 

 large heart was found ; and to this were attributed, and rightly so, their extra- 

 ordinary ])owers. "We may say, then, without hesitation, that a brain can no more 

 give out efficient manifestations of force without a sufficient blood-supply, than an 

 army can fight or mancBuvre effectively without a proper commissariat, or aa 

 engine work up to its full power without a liberal supply of coal and water. 

 Finally, we may conclude that the waves of nerve-force, which resolve themselves 

 into either psychical resolution or sustained muscular effort, are dependent in their 

 turn upon a well-maiutained succession of blood-waves supplied hj a firm and 

 vigorous heart. 



On the PJiysioloffical Action of Crystalline Aconitia and pseudo-Aconitiu. 

 Bij Dr. TnoMAs E. Fraser. 



The experiments were made with the nitrates of crystalline aconitia and pseudo- 

 aconitia, prepared by Mr. Groves, F.C.S., who first separated aconitia in a crystal- 

 line form in I8C4. Both alkaloids powerfully influence the cardiac contractions 

 and respiratory movements. Their toxic power is very great, entitling them 

 probably to be regarded as the most active poisons as yet known. A very re- 

 markable and exceptional difference of toxicity for different species of animals was 

 found to exist ; for while aconitia \& for frogs about five times more powerful as a 

 toxic agent than pseudo-aconitia, the latter substance is for rabbits about twice as 

 powerfid as the former. It was ascertained that this difference depends on aconitia 

 possessing a more energetic action on the heart, and a less eneigetic action on the 

 respiratory movements, than pseudo-aconitia. 



The Vocal Organs in Living Centenarians. 

 By Sir G. DuxcAJf Gibb, Bart., M.D., LL.D. 



The condition of the laiynx and other vocal organs in persons who have reached 

 the age of ICO years is of especial interest when determined during life, and 

 presented some new facts necessitating a modification of the views generally enter- 

 tained. The author's observations were foimdtd upon an examination of nine 

 living centenarians, whom he had personally visited in various parts of the countiy. 

 Iheir names, residences, dates of examination, and authentic records of their births 



I 



