XLII Appendix. 
alone is not sufficient to produce cedema, but that the increased exudation 
from the vessels is rather dependent on want of power in the vasomotor 
nerves. Supposing this want of nerve-power suddenly to obtain in the 
vasomotor nerves, regulating the tension and secretory powers of the vessels of 
the intestinal canal, how soon may this be followed by that which may be 
equivalent to cedema in the leg, the symptoms that obtain in cholera infantum. 
I only suggest a consideration of these experiments of Ranvier, as throwing 
some light on the essence of this disease. An account of these experiments 
will be found in the “ British Medical Journal,” 15th June, 1872. 
On these accounts I Jook upon mal-nutrition from faulty dietetics, this 
mal-nutrition affecting principally the integrity of the brain and nervous 
system, as the occult predisposing state on which high temperature acts in 
such a prejudicial manner in producing these intestinal disorders. I will only 
add that these considerations show how important it is that great attention 
should be paid to the diet of young infants during hot weather, especially after 
any continuance of it of long duration. Weaning a child at such a time 
would be very unwise, and likely to render it susceptible to a severe attack of 
intestinal disorder, should such occur. All young infants should be protected 
as much as possible from the effects of high temperature, and an endeavour 
made during its continuance to invigorate the whole system, and the nervous 
system in particular, by tepid or cold bathing, and plenty of fresh air during 
the cool parts of the day. 
I would desire also to call attention to the need that exists that some 
uniform system of nomenclature of disease should be used by all medical men 
in giving certificates of death. Some uniform system such as that adopted by 
Dr, William Farr, the Registrar-General of England, should be used by all. 
At the third conference of the Statistical Congress of the Great Powers of 
Europe, held in 1857, a nomenclature was agreed upon for adoption in all the 
States of Europe ; it would be well if all the medical men in the colony were 
supplied with some such system of nosology, that the causes of all deaths might 
be registered in a methodical and uniform manner. I see by a foot-note in Dr. 
Aitken’s “ Science and Practice of Medicine,” fourth edition, page 178, that a 
committee of the Royal College of Physicians of London was then (1864) at 
work upon a scheme of defining and classifying diseases, which might be an 
improvement upon that of Dr. Farr’s. But I do not know what has been 
done in the matter. I call attention to this as a matter deserving the 
attention of all medical men, and I should be glad to learn that something 
was done in the matter by the authorities at Wellington. 
