General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)Bichat, Xavier
Science
General Anatomy, Applied to Physiology and Medicine, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Bichat, Xavier
Human anatomy; Human physiology
The testicles and the prostate are much less often sympathetically
influenced in diseases than the other glands. Whilst every thing is
disturbed in the glandular system, they most frequently remain calm
and tranquil. Why? because they are insulated by their functions from
the other glands. The salivary glands, the pancreas, the kidneys,
the liver and almost all the mucous glands contribute to one common
object, viz. digestion. This object is connected with the existence of
most of the other organs. When these are diseased, it is not wonderful
that the glands feel it. On the contrary, the testicles, destined only
to the purpose of generation, entering later into action and ceasing
to act sooner than the other glands, having great intermissions in
their action, cannot in their affections be thus connected with the
diseases of the other organs. Sometimes however they are. We know that
some affections of the lungs dispose to venereal pleasures; that in a
natural state, a lively excitement of certain parts of the skin, of
that of the glutæi muscles especially brings into activity the whole
genital system, &c. &c.
We know the remarkable sympathy that renders the mammæ dependant upon
the womb. It is well known, that they swell a little every month,
at the beginning of menstruation; that cancers are often formed in
them at the cessation of this natural discharge; that the voluptuous
sensation of coition sometimes extends even to them, &c. All physicians
have observed this sympathetic relation which appears to be of a
peculiar kind and to depend upon the analogy of the functions of the
sympathizing organs.
After severe acute diseases, especially idiopathic fevers, the
glandular action is oftentimes much increased; there are great
evacuations; these are the crises; it is, according to the opinions of
most, the morbific humour that is expelled. This is a phenomenon that
should be examined, and which certainly in many cases does not depend,
as I shall prove, on the cause to which it has been attributed.
Though I consider many of the secretory derangements in diseases as
sympathetic, I am far from thinking that all are so. Certainly in
many cases, there is a general affection of the whole system, an
affection in which the glands, like all the other parts, participate;
this is what takes place in idiopathic fevers. But when one system is
especially affected, as the cutaneous in the small pox, the measles,
scarlatina, &c. the serous in pleurisy, peritonitis, &c. the cellular
in phlegmon, the nervous in convulsions, &c. I call the derangement
which the others experience sympathetic, and which does not depend upon
an injury of their texture.
Other ideas may be attached to the word sympathies, but these are
what I have connected with it in diseases. The word is of but little
consequence, provided what it expresses is understood.
_Active Sympathies._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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