GENERAL THERAPEUTICS OF THE DISEASES OF THE 

 NERVOUS SYSTEM 



Pathology. — Of the diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and pe- 

 ripheral nerves, those of especial therapeutic consideration are acute 

 inflammation and hypersemia of the brain, Bornas's disease of 

 the horse, epilepsy and eclampsia, sturdy or gid, cerebrospinal 

 meningitis, inflammation of the spinal cord, trotting disease of 

 sheep, and the spinal paralyses; also paralyses of the peripheral 

 nerves, especially the optic, facial, trigeminus, suprascapular and 

 radial. The central nervous system is also frequently affected 

 secondarily in the course of infectious diseases (canine distemper, 

 tetanus, contagious pneumonia, strangles, tuberculosis, dourine), 

 in poisoning (strychnine, lead, alcohol, red poppy, equisetinn) and 

 in wounds (fracture of the skull or vertebrae, hemorrhage, con- 

 cussion, contusion). 



Physiology. — The most important part of the braia physio- 

 logically and therapeutically is the cerebral cortex. This is, in 

 the first place, the location of the psychic functions (consciousness, 

 memory, intelligence, volition). In the cerebnun are situated the 

 motor, sensory, optic and acoustic cortical areas. The most of 

 these cortical centres manifest a specific relation to certain drugs. 

 They may also be stimulated by mechanical, thermic and electrical 

 stimuli, and by the will. The corpus striatum is the chief seat of 

 the heat centre. In the coipora quadrigemina and optic thalamus 

 is the pupillary centre, by which stimuli acting upon the retina 

 are transmitted reflexly to the oculomotor nerve (pupillary mo- 

 tion). In addition, the middle brain (corpus striatum, optic thala- 

 mus) contains centres for the coordination of movement, which 

 also originate forced movements. The cerebellum contains the 

 centre for the muscle sense and the equilibrium of the body (centre 

 of equilibrium); its extirpation produces cerebellar ataxia. The 

 semicircular canals are to be regarded as static organs for the 

 movement and carriage of the head. Ganglion cells form the 



88 



