SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
439 
sympathetic was excited. On the whole he thinks he may conclude from 
these and other experiments that the great sympathetic presides over the 
normal humectation of the globe of the eye ; and this is supported by patho- 
logical facts, since the eyes of patients suffering from paralysis of the fifth 
retain their proper moisture, though the power of shedding tears is abolished. 
Disturbances of the circulation caused variations in the lachrymal secretion. 
After ligature of the carotoid artery, irritation of the lachrymal nerve caused 
a less abundant fiow of tears than on the sound side. Ligature of the veins 
increased the fiow of tears. AH troubles of the respiration caused increased 
flow. 
Alcoholism detected hy Inci'ease in Temperature. — Mr. Magnan, says the 
Medical Record,” quoted from the Gazette Hebdom,” points out signs 
which distinguish the serious from the passing form of acute alcoholism, 
and establish the prognosis. The most important is the course of the tem- 
perature. In grave cases it rises from 104.4° Fahr. to 102.2° Fahr. on the 
first day, and goes on to 104° Fahr. and 107.5° Fahr., and in one case reached 
110° Fahr. before death. In cases ending in recovery, the temperature 
during the first four or five days oscillates towards defervesence ; when during 
two or three days the temperature oscillates around 86° Fahr., the case is 
simple and recovery may be expected. Another sign to which M. Magnan 
attaches importance is the existence not only of the ordinary “ tremblings,” 
but of muscular tremors — fibrillar contractions — produced on pressure or 
percussion, and during sleep, as well in the deep as in the superficial muscles. 
This is of unfavourable omen. 
How different Agents affect the Seci'etion of Bile. — Dr. Strieker has recently 
made some experiments on this subject which are decidedly of interest. 
In a paper read before the Gesellschaf der Aerzte, the defects of the former 
methods of obtaining the secretion were pointed out, and a new method 
suggested by which a canula was introduced into the ductus communis 
choledochus j from this depended a flexible caoutchouc tube, which ended 
in a mouthpiece that was kept constantly at the same level in a vice, thus 
avoiding apparent variation due to different height of the orifice of exit. 
These experiments showed that all circumstances causing hyperaemia of the 
blood-vessels of the liver increased the secretion of bile ; whilst, on the con- 
trary, all circumstances producing anaemia caused diminution. Thus the 
secretion was arrested in fasting animals, whilst it augmented after food 
Water introduced into the stomach or intestines caused a slight but transient 
increase. The introduction of purgative medicines, as croton oil, colocynth, 
jalap, calomel, Epsom salts, &c., materially increased the secretion of bile. 
It was at once stopped by ligature of the vena portse and vena hepatica. 
Ligature of the hepatic vein alone materially diminished the secretion ,• liga- 
ture of the aorta at the diaphragm materially diminished the secretion, but 
did not entirely stop it j ligature below the origin of the coeliac artery aug- 
mented it ligature of the vena cava ascendens immediately caused stoppage 
of the biliary secretion. All circumstances causing contraction of the vessels 
diminished the amount of secretion, as, for example, irritation of an exposed 
nerve, division of the spinal cord just below the medulla oblongata, and 
injection of strychnia. 
