Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.
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It is necessary here to state distinctly my opinion respecting aclion, as depending on the nerves. I consider that the muscles and capillar// arteries, though differing- in tissue, have each, inherent in their structures, a faculty of contracting, which is organic contractility; this contractility being acted upon by the nervous influence, and the result is contraction; the nervous influence being discharged into them from the nerves. A variety of circumstances leads us to the conclusion that the nervous influence is analogous to, or depending upon, if not identical with, the electrical principle or fluid, whatever that he. It is very common to say that, in inflammation, there is an increase of arterial action ; but a consideration of the phenomena, and of the nature of arterial action, will show that, in inflamed parts, the capillary arteries are weaker in their action ; that there is diminished arterial action, for the action of arteries is contraction. Now, the arteries in inflamed parts are evidently larger than before —less contracted, that is, acting less. The way to diminish inflammation, therefore, is to increase the aclion of the arteries ; as by cold, for instance, which makes them contract; i. e., increase their action. It is com- mon to speak of the throbbing of the carotid arteries as in- creased action; but the more they throb, it shows that they the more yield to the injecting force of the heart. As the heart therefore acts against the capillaries, if we cannot cause them to contract strongly enough to resist its force, we are obliged to diminish the force of the circulation, cither by taking away blood, which decreases both the quantity of blood sent to the arteries, and the action of the heart itself; and in this way we leave less for the arteries of the inflamed part to do; or we can lower the force of the heart by medicines, such as digi- talis, veratrium, &c. Dr. Graves remarks that physicians have been too much in the habit of regarding all cerebral symptoms, in fevers particularly, as the result of congestion, of inflammation, or of a derangement of the balance between the venous and the arterial systems of