326 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST,  [Vou. XXXIII. 
sensations from the labyrinth are lost, a more or less complete 
compensation may be made by the other senses. But the cen- 
tral nervous system will be led into error by false impressions 
from this organ, and thus be perplexed, even though the control 
of the other senses remains intact. 
I will now call attention to the familiar phenomenon of 
whirling dizziness, which is produced when we turn swiftly 
about the long axis of our body. We have seen that the nerves 
terminating in the labyrinth are stimulated by the flow of the 
liquid contained in it—the endolymph. But after turning rap- 
idly this fluid does not immediately come to rest, as we see 
when a vessel containing water is rapidly rotated and then sud- 
denly stopped. By this continued movement of the endolymph 
the nerve ends are stimulated for a time after the body has 
entirely ceased to move. False sensations are thus produced 
which give us a wrong impression of the actual movement of 
our body and cause dizziness — the whirling dizziness. 
The same effect is obtained in whatever direction the turning 
takes place. From quick movements upward or downward, also, 
similar results occur. Im America, where very tall buildings 
are now constructed, the use of elevators is frequently attended 
with dizziness, by which elevator boys are particularly affected. 
Seasickness can also be traced, at least in part, to similar 
conditions. But I will here observe that the viscera also, though 
in a much less degree, may participate in the production of 
whirling dizziness and seasickness. If the head be held still, 
and quick rotating motions be made with the trunk, by which 
the freely suspended viscera are set in motion, a slight dizziness 
is often felt. 
A peculiar pathological phenomenon, known as Meniére’s 
disease, or better as Meniére’s symptom complex, here deserves 
special mention. This malady is characterized by dizziness 
and a buzzing and snapping noise in the ears. One concludes, 
with much reason, that in such a case the ear labyrinth is 
directly or indirectly injured. In some cases of this kind, 
bleedings have been found in the semicircular canals, and fis- 
sures in the temporal and other bones. 
A complete absence of the sense of equilibrium is found in a 
