Electro-physiology and electro-therapeutics : showing the best methods for the medical uses of electricity / By Alfred C. Garratt.

8. Cause. Asphyxia, and the accumulation of black blood in the encephalon and in the spinal cord. Effect. Clonic convulsions every where, contractions of the bowels, the bladder, and the uterus ; erection ; increase of many secretions ; efforts at inspiration. 9. Cause. Exhaustion of nervous power generally, and of the reflex faculty especially, except for respiration, which grad- ually becomes normal. Effect. Cessation of the convulsions ; coma, or heavy sleep, after which there is extreme fatigue and headache. Thus are shown, of course, only the more frequent phenomena, besides which there are a great variety ; moreover, we can thus see the bearing of those admirable researches of Dr. Marshall Hall which first showed the important influence of laryngismus and trachelismus in the causation of epileptiform convulsions. And, finally, we are instructed by Dr. Sequard how asphyxia, to which so great a share is due in the phenomena of epilepsy, and in its most grave consequences, depends not only upon the state of the larynx, but also on that of the chest; and that not only cannot the blood return easily from the head, on account of the trachelismus, but also we see that it cannot enter the chest from either the spinal canal or the head, on account of the fixed state of expiration; besides, the bronchia? themselves are often contracted, and thus, all these causes co-existing, tho blood accumulates and lingers in the base of the encephalon, also in and about the spinal cord, from ganglionic reflex-action. According to Dr. Sequard, there are many other nervous affections that very often have the characteristic features of epilepsy, at least as regards their production. He relates a large number of facts that go to show and prove that, far more frequently than might be imagined by most persons, there are many forms of insanity, of vertigo, of hallucinations, of illu- sions, and also of ecstasis, catalepsy, hysteria, chorea, hydropho- bia, tetanus, (lockjaw,) local cramps, and even that peculiar diffusible paralysis that is connected with insanity, which may be due to irritations " starting " from a centripetal nerve rami-