are naturally coloured by blood. The stomach was very full. Its contents consisted of a brownish, nearly homogeneous mass, destitute of any peculiar appearance or smell. The veins were peculiarly distinct, as seen through the outer or serous coat. The internal or mucous coat had an extremely deep red colour, especially near the pyloric orifice, where this appearance was most equally diffused. The parts most strongly coloured were of a purplish hue, and more tender than the rest of the organ. This dissection was performed in presence of Dr. Warren, sen. Dr. Jennison, Dr. Jackson, and others.

In these two cases, and these are the only cases of apoplexy in which I have yet had an opportunity of examining all the cavities, we find, besides the morbid appearances that are usual, a very remarkable state of the stomach. In order to give due weight to this phenomenon we ought to consider, first, that it must have occurred very suddenly, and of course denotes a powerful impression on the organ; second, that the appearance of inflamed surfaces is materially changed after death, and that the red colour diminishes, at least when the inflammation has not lasted long. It is therefore not to be doubted that the redness had been greater during life, than when the subject was examined.

Apoplexy is commonly considered a disease of the brain, in which death is produced by pressure on that organ in one of three ways. 1st. By the rupture of a vessel, and the consequent discharge of blood on the surface, or in the substance of the brain. 2d. By the fulness, or over distension of the cerebral vessels with blood. 3d. By an effusion of the serous part of the blood into some portion of the brain.

Is it probable that the stomach ever has an influence on the brain in producing this disease? Mr. John Bell answers this question in a very decided manner. He tells us "the stomach never affects the head."* He gives a pathetic history of a friend of his, who died of the disorder of the head, which is so often and so fatally ascribed to the stomach;" for, asks he,

by what mechanism or what nervous sympathy could the stomach materially affect the head? It is generally a disorder of the brain itself that affects the stomach with sickness, the senses with confusion, the heart with palpitation, the limbs with debility, and the whole frame with tremours: the indescribable and complicated sensations, which we cruelly call nervous, as if they proceeded from a disordered and ill regulated imagination, are real and physical affections of the most important organ of the body. When at any time the stomach performs its functions imperfectly, and acidities are generated, digestion is imperfect, and the whole body is debilitated, but no hypochondriasism belongs to this form of stomach disorder; it does not affect the head."

When a popular author, like Mr. Bell, whose opinions are delivered in an imposing style, thus confounds truth with error, it becomes a duty to investigate his assertions, and separate, if possible, those which are worthy of confidence from others fraught with mistake and mischief. This is particularly important when a numerous and interesting class of disorders is concerned. It is not for us, however, to examine all the errors that are included in the preceding quotation. We shall venture to meddle with what relates alone to the fatal disease which we have exemplified above; but if our reasonings and inferences are correct, they may be applied to an extensive and important set of complaints.

"By what mechanism, or what nervous sympathy could the stomach affect the head ?" This is rather an extraordinary question for a great anatomist. The stomach is partly supplied with nerves from the great ganglia of the abdomen. If it had been wholly furnished from this source, or even from the proper intercostals of the spinal marrow, the question would have excited less surprise; but this is not the case. The great nerve of the stomach is the par vagum. This nerve comes so directly from

the brain to the stomach, that no nervous connection between parts can be more intimate than that between these two organs. The par vagum after quitting the brain runs down the neck, penetrates the thorax, and having given some nervous filaments

to the heart and lungs, spreads itself on the side of the œsophagus, along which it goes straight to the stomach; the pyloric orifice is encircled with a network of its nerves, from which run innumerable filaments into the organ, and at last some branches form a connection with the cœliac ganglion. So that, if we believe nervous sympathy to be dependent on nervous connection, no parts are better fitted to sympathize than the brain and stomach; and if we consider sympathy to be independent of nervous connection, the stomach may sympathize with the brain, as well as any other organ. The influence of the par vagum on the stomach is capable of being shown by experiment. If this nerve be divided in the thorax, the functions of the stomach will be suspended. There does not therefore seem to be any great difficulty in explaining "by what nervous sympathy the stomach may affect the head."*

A sufficient number of pathological facts might be adduced to show the influence of the stomach on the brain. The common sick headach presents one of the most evident examples. In this disorder the brain is severely affected, as is shewn by the intense pain, and the derangement of the external senses. The eyes flash, the ears ring, the tongue is benumbed, the touch is blunted. During all this tumult, the stomach labours under severe oppression. An emetic is opportunely administered, perhaps by nature unassisted, and this organ relieved of its offensive contents. The pain of the head soon after ceases; the senses gradually return, and the brain clears, to use the expression of a patient, like the sky after a sudden storm. But if the emetic has been unwisely rejected, the paroxysm will be longer, and often leave the patient dull and uncomfortable. Persons labouring under indigestion sometimes experience sensations in the head, which they have not been accustomed to feel. A lady who was dreadfully affected with this disorder, while she was growing worse began to complain of strange feelings in her head, which inspired her with the fear of becoming insane. The symptoms of dyspepsia increasing, she was at last attacked with terrible fits of epilepsy, that continued to occur during the

Foderé, Physiologie positive.

space of some weeks. When she began to recover from the indigestion, the fits went off, and have never re-appeared. A few grains of rotten egg, taken into the stomach, have been known to produce vertigo, confusion of thought, and insensibility, which symptoms were relieved by evacuating the stomach. Whether the action on the nervous system of certain vegetable poisons taken into the stomach, can be fairly adduced in support of the influence exercised by the stomach on the brain, may possibly admit of doubt. It appears by the experiments of M. Delisle, that four or five grains of the upas tieuté, an East Indian poison, produced a tetanus, or spasmodic affection of the muscles, in seven minutes after being forced into the stomach of a dog.* Is it probable that this substance could be carried into the blood by the absorbent vessels, in so short a time? If not, it must have acted by means of the sympathy of the brain with the stomach:

Since writing these remarks I have met with some recent experiments of Mr. Brodie, which strongly support the opinion, that these powerful poisons operate on the brain, through the medium of the nervous system; or at least render it improbable that the substance is absorbed and carried by the blood vessels to the brain.

A CONCISE VIEW OF THE RESULTS OF DR. DAVY'S LATE ELECTROCHEMICAL RESEARCHES.

No apology, we presume, will be required for laying before our

readers an abstract of the discoveries and profound researches of this celebrated chemist. Notwithstanding the novelty of his investigations, the variety and importance of his experiments, and the interest with which they have been viewed by the chemists and philosophers of Europe, there are but few among us, who have acquired any certain information on the mode in which they were conducted, or any distinct idea of their results. Although the progress of Dr. Davy has been made known to us through the media of the different European journals of philosophy, and partial accounts have been occasionally published in more than one of our own periodical works; yet a knowledge of the result of his labours is still confined to a narrow circle; for, with one exception,* no general view has yet been given of the nature of his operations, nor the influence they are supposed to have in altering the features of chemical science. They are, we believe, but little known in this section of the United States; and we have flattered ourselves, therefore, that a succinct account of the effects, which have resulted from the application of a new power to the purposes of chemical analysis, would prove neither useless nor uninteresting.

No chemist, perhaps, has effected, in so short a period, more brilliant discoveries, nor pursued with more ardour and ultimate success, the fortunate career which his own sagacity has opened to him, than Dr. Davy. His character as a philosopher, however, is founded less on the mere discovery of new elements of matter, to which chance might have directed him, than on the extent, the variety, and the delicacy of his experiments, the precision and justness of his reasoning, and the modesty with which he advances opinions as theoretical, that with many

* Henry's Chemistry, 2d Amer. ed. Notes.