Vitreous body

“ I find the vitreous body to be composed of prisms and pyramids with axial fibers, while the long pigment cells (supporting cells of Schewiakoff) are continued into the vitreous body, and becoming narrowed into a non-pigmented fiber, [54] extend to the lens as described. The prisms and pyramids are, further, the distal continuations of cells whose pigmented and nuclear parts lie in the so-called retina, but which, together with the vitreous body, I have named the retina proper. ”

“ The cone-shaped streaks of pigment in the vitreous body belong to the underlying pigment cells, in fact are direct continuations of them, and at their distal ends they are prolonged into fibrous processes lying in canals of the vitreous body exactly like the visual fibres of Schewiakoff. ”

“ When the colour of the blood is dark, and it is thick in consistence, a larger amount is to be abstracted than when it is thin and of a light colour. He makes the important remark, that bleeding sometimes kindles up a fever. He forbids the bath immediately before the operation, and food or exercise immediately afterwards. When a piece of fat obstructs the flow of blood, he directs that it should be gently pushed aside, but not cut out. (i, 4, 20.)
No author, ancient or modern, has described the modes of performing venesection in all parts of the body more accurately than Albucasis. ”

“ I find the learned Gilbertus Anglicus, who flourished about 1360, reasoning concerning the manner how it is possible a Man should be infected by a Leprous-Woman; where if we allow him to call the Malignant Matter, which is lodged in the Vagina [the Womans seed] we shall find he acurately describes the very first Venereal-Infection, by part of the virulent Matters being received into the Urethra; from whence by the Communication of the Veins and Arteries, it is conveyed into the whole Body, after which (says he) ensues its total Corruption. ”

“ By keeping to the first, we should be obliged to admit, to explain in all the circumstances we have related, that the liquor of the male sometimes ascends to the testicle, and, by mixing with the seminal liquor of the female, forms organized bodies; and so may also the female fluid, by being plentiful in the vagina, penetrate, during the time of copulation, into the scrotum of the male, nearly as the venereal virus often reaches that part; and that in this case, an organized body may be found in the scrotum, by the mixture of the male and female fluids ”

“ In a certain number of cases no lesion will be found in any of the veins of the body, but the uterine veins will be found to contain some unnatural fluid; at other times coagula of blood, which have lost their elasticity, gritty to the feel, and greyish or light brown in appearance, [Pg 20] will be found filling the veins or leaving intervals in them, where lymph or pus may be recognized. It matters little whether the unnatural fluids, thus found in the uterine vessels, have been absorbed from the cavity of the uterus, or are the product of venous inflammation. ”

“ He wrote:
‘A popular View of the Effects of the Venereal Disease upon the Constitution,’ London, 8vo, 1794. ‘An Inquiry into some of the Effects of the Venereal Poison upon the Human Body,’ London, 8vo, 1802: the work is worthless, for the advance of knowledge has shown that its conclusions are based upon incorrect premisses. ‘An Account of a newly discovered Membrane in the Human Eye, to which are added some Objections to the Common Operation for Fistula Lacrymalis, and the Suggestion of a New Method of treating that Disease,’ London, 4to, 1807. ”

“ There are certain concurrent or successive actions of some of the glands, or other parts of the body, which are possessed of sensation, which become intelligible from this propensity to imitation. Of these are the production of matter by the membranes of the fauces, or by the skin, in consequence of the venereal disease previously affecting the parts of generation. Since as no fever is excited, and as neither the blood of such patients, nor even the matter from ulcers of the throat, or from cutaneous ulcers, will by inoculation produce the venereal disease in others, as observed by Mr. ”

“ This fact, which, taken by itself, might appear of little consequence, assumes considerable importance when considered as one of the inherent properties of the blood, at all times ready, under favourable circumstances, to be called into action in the living body. The conditions under which pus will determine the coagulation of the blood, and those under which it will circulate in the living vessels, require to be accurately ascertained, before we can rightly interpret the discordant evidence which we at present have upon this point. ”

“ Mammalia differ from all the types already described in the immense fœtal development of the blood-vessels of the vitreous humour. There are however some points in connection with the development of these vessels which are still uncertain. The most important of these points concerns the presence of a prolongation of the mesoblast around the eye into the cavity of the vitreous humour. It is maintained by Lieberkühn, Arnold, Kölliker, etc., that in the invagination of the lens a thin layer of mesoblast is carried before it; and is thus transported into the cavity of the vitreous humour. ”

“ But the same power and force can be directed upon ourselves by ourselves, either upon an afflicted member of the body,—from brain to heel,—or upon the internal viscera, as in cases of dyspepsia, liver trouble, kidney difficulty, heart disease, cancer of stomach; above all, the pelvic viscera of either gender when disordered, as most are; gravid uterus, ulcerated, originating frequently in lacerated, vagina ”

“ Human blood, as is well known, shows the buffy coat in some states of inflammation. But it may also occur in anæmia. [2] And it may well make our profession humble to reflect that in days within living memory buffing of the clot was regarded as an indication for further withdrawal of the vital fluid by venesection.
To return from this digression: adhesiveness of the corpuscles, both red and white, was seen in the vessels of an irritated area of the frog's web, as in blood outside the body. ”

“ Orifices of the Body. The mouth, nose, ears, anus, urethra and vagina are to be examined with special regard to their condition and contents (open, closed, gaping, torn, bleeding, discharge of pus, blood, mucus, féces, stomach contents, semen, urine, foreign substances, parasites, ear-wax, etc.) . In cases of suspected rape an especial examination of the orifice of the vagina or anus is indicated.
35. Percussion and Palpation. The external examination may be closed by the percussion of the heart, lung, spleen, liver and stomach boundaries, and by the palpation of the abdomen. ”

“ These are called Varices, and occasionally they attain a large size, and extend to various other portions of the body, as the external lips, vagina, and mouth of the womb. Some women in fact have them over nearly the whole body. They are caused by the pressure of the womb on the large abdominal veins, preventing the return of the blood and disturbing the balance of circulation between the veins and arteries. ”

“ The racemose glands may become obstructed, either as a result of thickening in the character of the secretion or of occlusion of the orifices, and small retention-cysts are formed, which often fill the body of the cervix, and, extending peripherally, appear beneath the mucous membrane of the vaginal aspect. ”

“ In the sea-scurvy there exists an inactivity of venous absorption, whence vibices and petechiæ, and sometimes ulcers. As the column of blood pressing on the of origins of the veins of the lower extremities, when the body is erect, opposes the ascent of the blood in them, they are more frequently liable to become enlarged, and to produce varixes, or vibices, or, lastly, ulcers about the legs, than on the upper parts of the body. ”

“ When the menstrual or hemorrhodial discharge is expected, he directs us to bleed less profusely than otherwise. Persons of a hard, sanguine, and compact habit of body are said to bear bleeding best. In practising venesection, he directs the physician to pay more attention to the strength of the patient than to the period of the fever. He is particularly earnest in recommending the use of cold drink: he directs it to be given at the acme of the disease, but not at the commencement. He forbids us to administer it freely when there is obstruction or inflammation of an internal viscus ”

“ These scales drop off in the order of their formation, from the head, face, neck, and body, and finally leave a beautiful, smooth, clear skin, and the frame clear of all disease:—The process is also held to be a certain cure for venereal infection. I have known many white men go through a course of this powerful medicine. Women are not allowed to use it ”

“ From this source proceed two large veins, which branch into the fore-part and the back of the body, and which, spreading out in a series of branches, convey the vital blood by other smaller veins over all parts of the body. This is the only one271 among the viscera that is not affected by maladies, nor is it subject to the ordinary penalties of human life; but when injured, it produces instant death. While all the other viscera are injured, vitality may still remain in the heart. ”

“ Every foreign body in contact for the first time, with a mucous membrane, is creative of a disagreeable sensation, which by repetition, is diminished, and at last becomes altogether imperceptible. Pessaries in the vagina, tents in the rectum, the canula made use of for tying polypi of the nose, or the uterus, bougies, in the urethra, in the œsophagus, or trachea, styles and setons in the lachrymal passages, present us every day with these phenomena. The impressions of which the cutaneous organ is the seat, are all of them subjected to the same law. ”

“ A disease of equal malignity, and resembling in all respects the Egyptian ophthalmia, occurs from the application of gonorrhœal matter to the conjunctiva, or on sudden suppression of the gonorrhœal discharge,—metastasis of the action sometimes takes place from the urethral membrane to the conjunctiva. The eye is seldom saved from the destructive effects of the violent inflammation which follows the contact of the morbid fluid. Of all forms of purulent ophthalmia, the gonorrhœal is the most rapid in its course and destructive in its effects. ”

“ Ailments of every kind too show in most subjects, that the influence of the genital 21 organs on all parts of the body may be so great as even to derange the functions: of this character are pains, heaviness in the head, vertigos, redness of the face, numbness in the limbs, dulness and oppression, palpitations of the heart, bleeding from the nose, painful engorgements of the lymphatic ganglions, different inflammations, &c. ”

“ Blood-letting in this locality purifies liver, spleen, breast. 34. Same as 32. 36. Affections of the spleen, meningeal inflammation; hemorrhoids; stitches in the left side; renal affections; dysmenorrhea. 37. Affections of the spleen and of the bladder. 38. Dropsy; disturbances of digestion; ulcers of long standing. 39. Melancholia; venesection in this locality strengthens the kidneys. [177] 40. Hemorrhoids; strangury; disturbances of digestion; affections of the bladder and of the sexual organs. 41. Venesection here acts upon the proper condition of the body in general. ”

“ The appendages of the skin are the hair, nails, the sebaceous and sweat-glands. This complicated structure is supplied with blood-vessels, lymphatics, and nerves.
The Epidermis.—The outer layer of this is the horny layer; when a blister is formed, its fluid raises the entire epidermis from the true skin. The flat scales forming the [Pg 25] horny layer are continually being thrown off; this process of desquamation is increased by the friction of the clothes, of bathing, massage, and so forth, and is as constantly being replaced by new cells from underneath. ”

“ Primary chancres discover themselves soon after the coition, and are generally seated in parts covered with a thin cuticle, as the lips, the nipples of women, the glens penis of men, &c. [8]
8. When the venereal ulcers are seated in the lips, the infection may be communicated by kissing. I have seen very obstinate venereal ulcers in the lips, which I have all the reason in the world to believe were communicated in this manner. Nurses ought to beware of suckling infected children, or having their breasts drawn by persons tainted with the venereal disease. ”

“ In hot weather, the red color is very soon altered by decomposition; if the epidermis has been detached at any point, the skin beneath this is dry, hard and red. In warm weather, we may find, for a few hours after death, broad, bluish lines, corresponding to the cutaneous veins, ramifying in the skin of the neck and thorax. These lines are formed by the escape of the coloring matter of the blood from the vessels. ”

“ A complete cure of her condition was brought about within a week, and now, after the expiration of six months, there has been no return of her symptoms.
For the benefit of physician readers I should like to add that in treating eye strain, conjunctivitis, sties, granulated lids, and eye conditions generally, pressures made with a blunt probe, (see E Fig. 11) on the muco-cutaneous margins (where the skin joins the mucous membrane in the nostrils) affects the second division of the ophthalmic nerve, and assists materially in bringing about a favorable influence in eye troubles. ”

“ That generated by the man is called "prostatic flow;" that produced by the woman "pre-coital secretion."
Now, if time is given for this fluid to be secreted and exuded, all the parts become covered or saturated with it, and they are admirably equipped for easy union. The glans penis is then covered with the slippery fluid, and the vulva and all the walls of the vagina are laved with the substance. At the same time, the vaginal walls have widened and grown soft, and all the parts of the vulva (which are yet to be named and described in detail) are in like condition. ”