XLii Appendix. 



alone is not sufficient to produce oedema, 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 oedema in the leg, the symptoms that obtain in cholera infantum. 

 I only suggest a consideration of these experiments of E/anvier, 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 look 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 adojDted by 

 Dr. William Farr, the Kegistrar-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 nomenclatiire was agreed upon for adoption in all the 

 States of Europe j 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 Poyal 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. 



