DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM 89 



anatomical foundation of all of the nerve centres (psychic, auto- 

 matic, reflex activity). 



The medulla oblongata also contains a large number of impor- 

 tant vital centres. These centres can also be influenced thera- 

 peutically by specific drugs. Especially noteworthy are the respi- 

 ratory, vasomotor, vagus, salivary, sweat and diabetic centres, 

 and the centres of vomition and swallowing. 



In the spinal cord are the paths of conduction of the motor 

 (inferior column) and the sensory nerves (superior column) of the 

 extremities; also the centres for the uterus, the vessels, the sweat 

 glands, the discharge of urine, the erection of the penis and for the 

 sphincter muscle of the anus. 



The peripheral nerves have sensory, motor, secretory, vaso- 

 motor, trophic (?), reflex-stimulating and reflex-inhibiting func- 

 tions. Especially important in therapeutics are the reflex func- 

 tions (centripetal, centrifugal nerves; reflex movement, reflex 

 inhibition, reflex secretion). All peripheral nerves, but especially 

 the sensory nerves of the skin and mucous membranes, and all 

 parts of the central nervous system possess reflex powers, — i.e., 

 the ability to transmit a centripetal stimulus to a reflex centre 

 and out over a centrifugal path without the intervention of con- 

 sciousness (coughing, sneezing, pupillary contraction, vascular 

 contraction, vascular dilation, perspiration, vomiting, increased 

 peristalsis, tendon reflexes). 



The intrinsic chemical constituents of the brain and nerves 

 are the phosphorus-containing protagon and lecithin, cerebrin, 

 and other proteids. Resting nerve substance is alkaline in reac- 

 tion; the active, acid (lactic acid and other products of fatigue). 

 Natural sleep is brought about by the action of the fatigue prod- 

 ucts on the albumin of the ganglion cells in a manner similar to 

 that of morphine and chloroform narcosis; anaemia of the brain 

 occurs secondarily. 



Therapeutic Methods. — 1. On account of the varied and inti- 

 mate relations between the nervous system and a large number of 

 drugs, the medical treatment of nervous diseases is a prominent 

 feature of the therapeutics of nervous diseases. The action of 



