Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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471 (canvas 487)
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but we must recollect that in and about this articulation are
spent the ultimate ramifications of many nerve twigs, but espe-
cially those of the internal saphenous nerve. (See p. 476.)
CHAPTER VII.
ANESTHESIA — DIMINISHED NERVE ACTION AND
PARALYSIS.
General Palsy.
When all the limbs, as well as the body, of an individual are
deprived of motion, the affection is viewed as a general palsy.
I have seen a case of catalepsy similate this; but then the sphinc-
ters were wwaffected, and the case remained in this state for but
a short time. General palsy, strictly so speaking, may occur as
a merely extended state of paraplegia. In these rare cases, vol-
untary motion alone may be lost, while sensibility still remains;
so may both be lost, but such cases are extremely rare. The
origin of this sad condition is, probably, from some lesion of the
spinal cord, or its membranes, situated high up, still necessarily
below the origin of the pneumogastric nerves. Some general,
special poison, as the ivorara, might cause it. Sir Benjamin
Brodie very justly remarks that it is not to be supposed that fatal
cases of palsy are always mere " functional diseases, simply be-
cause we cannot find a lesion after death. The mysterious and
minute organization of the brain and spinal cord is by no means
to be freely inspected by the naked eye. Nor even by the aid
of a microscope can we trace but a little way. Some change of
ultimate structure, some grand defect in the minute and intricate
ensemble may exist, and yet be far too fine and deep to be per-
ceptible to our coarse senses." (See pp. 476-479, and App. B, C.)