The Origin and Nature of the Emotions; Miscellaneous PapersCrile, George Washington
Science
The Origin and Nature of the Emotions; Miscellaneous Papers
Crile, George Washington
Emotions; Psychophysiology
Fatigue.--Fatigue from overexertion produced in the brain-cells
like changes to those produced by fear, these changes being
proportional to the amount of exertion (Fig. 4). In the extreme
stage of exhaustion from this cause we found that the total
quantity of Nissl substance was enormously reduced.
When the exertion was too greatly prolonged, it took weeks or
months for the cells to be restored to their normal condition.
We have proved, therefore, that in exhaustion resulting from emotion
or from physical work a certain number of the brain-cells are
permanently lost. This is the probable explanation of the fact
that an athlete or a race-horse trained to the point of highest
efficiency can reach his maximum record but once in his life.
Under certain conditions, however, it is possible that, though some
chromatin is forever lost, the remainder may be so remarkably developed
that for a time at least it will compensate for that which is gone.
Hemorrhage.--The loss of blood from any cause, if sufficient to reduce
the blood-pressure, will occasion a change in the brain-cells, provided
that the period of hypotension lasts for more than five minutes.
This time limit is a safeguard against permanent injury
from the temporary hypotension which causes one to faint.
If the hemorrhage be long continued and the blood-pressure be low,
there will be a permanent loss of some of the brain-cells. This
explains why an individual who has suffered from a prolonged
hemorrhage will never again be restored to his original powers.
Drugs.--According to their effect upon the brain-cells, drugs
may be divided into three classes: First, those that stimulate
the brain-cells to increased activity, as strychnin (Fig. 37);
second, those that chemically destroy the brain-cells, as alcohol
and iodoform (Figs. 38 and 39); third, those that suspend the functions
of the cells without damaging them, as nitrous oxid, ether, morphin.
Our experiments have shown that the brain-cell changes induced
by drugs of the first class are precisely the same as the cycle
of changes produced by the emotions and by physical activity.
We have found that strychnin, according to the dosage, causes convulsions
ending in exhaustion and death; excitation followed by lassitude;
stimulation without notable after-results; or
{illust. caption = A, Section of Cerebellum of Normal Dog. C, Section of
Cerebellum of Dog after Repeated Doses of Strychnin. FIG. 37.--
BRAIN-CELLS SHOWING STAGE OF HYPERCHROMATISM FOLLOWED BY CHROMATOLYSIS
RESULTING FROM THE CONTINUATION OF THE STIMULUS. (Camera lucida
drawings.)increased mental tone; while the brain-cells accurately
display these physiologic alterations in proportional hyperchromatism
in the active stages, and proportional chromatolysis in the stages
of reaction. The biologic and therapeutic application of this fact
is as obvious as it is important.
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