226 On Chronic DebUity 



Sphincter Ani, and Sphincter Vesicas muscles, but hb 

 foeces and urine passed without his knowledge. The 

 spine was doubtless fractured, and such a degree of pres- 

 sure had been niade on the Medulla Spinalis, as wholly 

 to destroy sensation and voluntary motion in all those 

 parts of the body, which derived their whole supply of 

 nerves from that part of it below the wound. 



That the morbid sympathetic actions in question, are 

 the result of nervous influence, is further evident from 

 the fact, that certain violent stimuli taken into the stom- 

 ach, greatly derange or destroy voluntary motion, before 

 they can have entered the blood. Toad Stools taken in- 

 to the stomach produce, in many instances, the most 

 alarming and deleterious efiects, without producing any 

 inflammation in its coats, as is usual from arsenic, and 

 other metallic poisons. Neither is there any reason to 

 believe that the blood undergoes any change ; yet the 

 head, and the whole muscular system are sometimes 

 greatly affected, to such a degree as to produce death. 

 If the Toad Stools, after having begun to disorder the pa- 

 tient, are thrown off from the stomach by vomiting, a 

 speedy and perfect recovery usually ensues. 



The same truth might be further evinced from the op- 

 eration of opium, upon the whole system, when taken in- 

 to the stomach, or injected per anum. The effects of 

 severe study, or close application of the mind upon the 

 debilitated stomach, can be accounted for on no other 

 principle. 



That the muscular coat of the stomach is, also, in part 

 the seat of the debility in question, appears highly prob- 

 able, if not certain, from tlie following considerations. 



In frequent instances at the commencement of the dis- 

 ease, and for a considerable period afterwards, and at 

 times throughout its whole continuance, till it terminates 

 in death, or till liealth is restored, especially in delicate 

 young ladies, the stomach becomes so extremely irrita- 

 ble, as daily to reject by vomiting, a very large portion of 

 the food which it has received, and such as was former- 

 ly, when in health, wholly easy and pleasant. 



The contractions of the muscular fibres are here irreg- 

 ular, unnatural, and inclining towards or becoming spas- 





