In no direction did the
experimental method effect such a revolution as in our knowledge of the
functions of the brain. Clinical neurology, which had received a great
impetus by the studies of Todd, Romberg, Lockhart Clarke, Duchenne and
Weir Mitchell, was completely revolutionized by the experimental work
of Hitzig, Fritsch and Ferrier on the localization of functions in
the brain. Under Charcot, the school of French neurologists gave great
accuracy to the diagnosis of obscure affections of the brain and spinal
cord, and the combined results of the new anatomical, physiological and
experimental work have rendered clear and definite what was formerly the
most obscure and complicated section of internal medicine. The end of
the fifth decade of the century is marked by a discovery of supreme
importance. Humphry Davy had noted the effects of nitrous oxide. The
exhilarating influence of sulphuric ether had been casually studied, and
Long of Georgia had made patients inhale the vapor until anaesthetic and
had performed operations upon them when in this state; but it was not
until October 16, 1846, in the Massachusetts General Hospital, that
Morton, in a public operating room, rendered a patient insensible with
ether and demonstrated the utility of surgical anaesthesia.
Pages:
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271