Origin and Nature of Emotions Part 3

In applying the principle of anoci-a.s.sociation in operations on patients with Graves' disease there is scarcely a change in the pulse, in the respiration, or in the nervous state at the close of the operation.

I know no remedy which can obviate the effect of the inflowing stimuli from the wound after the cocain[*] has worn off.[t] It is necessary, therefore,

Beats 70 80 90 100 110 120

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Anoci. ******* ******** ******** ** not to venture too far in serious cases. Since the adoption of this new method (anoci-a.s.sociation) my operative results have been so vastly improved that I now rarely regard any case of Graves' disease as inoperable, at least to the extent of contraindicating a double ligation (Fig. 17).

[*] See footnote, page 4.@@@

[t] In later papers and in "Anoci-a.s.sociation" (Crile and Lower) methods of combating postoperative hyperthyroidism are fully discussed.

If we believe that, in accordance with the law of phylogenetic a.s.sociation, a continuous stimulation of both the brain and the thyroid gland, accelerated by summation, plays a role in the establishment of the pathologic interaction seen in Graves' disease, then it is but the next step to a.s.sume that if the nerve connection between the brain and the thyroid be severed, or if the lobe be excised and the patient reinforced by a sojourn in a sanatorium or in some environment free from former noci-a.s.sociations, he may be restored to normal health, provided that the brain-cells, the heart, or other essential organs have not suffered irreparable damage.

There are still many missing links in the solution of this problem, and the foregoing hypotheses are not offered as final, although from the viewpoint of the surgeon many of the phenomena of this disease are explicable.

s.e.xual-Neurasthenia

The state of s.e.xual neurasthenia is in many respects a.n.a.logous to that of Graves' disease. In the s.e.xual reflexes, summation leads to a hyperexcitability by psychic and mechanical stimuli of a specific type which is a.n.a.logous to the hyperexcitability in Graves'

disease under trauma and fear; the explanation of both conditions is based on the laws of the discharge of energy by phylogenetic a.s.sociation and summation. It would be interesting to observe the effect of interrupting the nerve impulses from the field of the s.e.xual receptors by injections of alcohol, or by other agencies, so as to exclude the a.s.sociational stimuli until the nervous mechanism has again become restored to its normal condition.

Interpretation of Some of the Phenomena of Certain Diseases of the Abdomen in Accordance with the Hypothesis of Phylogenetic a.s.sociation

The law of phylogenetic a.s.sociation seems to explain many of the phenomena of certain lesions in the abdominal cavity.

The nociceptors in the abdomen, like nociceptors elsewhere, have been established as a result of some kind of injury to which during vast periods of time this region has been frequently exposed.

On this premise, we should at once conclude that there are no nociceptors for heat within the abdomen because, during countless years, the intra-abdominal region never came into contact with heat.

That this inference is correct is shown by the fact that the application of a thermocautery to the intestines when completing a colostomy in a conscious patient is absolutely painless.

One would conclude also that there are no touch receptors in the abdominal viscera, and therefore no sense of touch in the peritoneum.

Just as the larynx, the ear, the nose, the sole of the foot, and the skin have all developed the specific type of nociceptors which are adapted for their specific protective purposes, and which, when adequately stimulated, respond in a specific manner in accordance with the law of phylogenetic a.s.sociation, so, the abdominal viscera have developed equally specific nociceptors as a protection against specific nocuous influences. The princ.i.p.al harmful influences to which the abdominal viscera have been exposed during vast periods of time are deep tearing injuries by teeth and claws in the innumerable struggles of our progenitors with each other and with their enemies (Fig. 9); peritonitis caused by perforations of the intestinal tract from ulcers, injuries, appendicitis, gall-stones, etc.; and overdistention of the hollow viscera by various forms of obstruction.

Whatever may be the explanation, it is a fact that the type of trauma which results from fighting corresponds closely with that which causes the most shock in the experimental laboratory.

Division of the intestines with a sharp knife causes no pain, but pulling on the mesentery elicits pain. Ligating the stump of the appendix causes sharp, cramp-like pains. Sharp division of the gall-bladder causes no pain, but distention, which is the gall-bladder's most common pathologic state, produces pain.

Distention of the intestine causes great pain, but sharp cutting or burning causes none. In the abdominal viscera, as in the superficial parts, nociceptors have presumably been developed by specific harmful influences and each nociceptor is open to stimulation only by a stimulus of the particular type that produced it.

As a result of the excitation of nociceptors, with which pain is a.s.sociated, the routine functions, such as peristalsis, secretion, and absorption are dispossessed from the control of their respective nervous mechanisms, just as they are inhibited by fear. This hypothesis explains the loss of weight, the la.s.situde, the indigestion, the constipation, and the many alterations in the functions of the various glands and organs of the digestive system in chronic appendicitis.

It readily explains also the extraordinary improvement in the digestive functions and the general health which follows the removal of an appendix which is so slightly altered physically that only the clinical results could persuade one that this slight change could be an adequate cause for such far-reaching and important symptoms.

This hypothesis explains certain gall-bladder phenomena likewise,-- indigestion, loss of weight, disturbed functions, etc.,--and it may supply the explanation of the disturbance caused by an active a.n.a.l fissure, which is a potent noci-a.s.sociator, and the consequent disproportionate relief after the trivial operation for its cure.

Noci-a.s.sociation would well explain also the great functional disturbances of the viscera which immediately follow abdominal operations.

Postoperative and traumatic neuroses are at once explained on the ground of noci-a.s.sociation, the resulting strain from which, upon the brain-cells, causes in them physical lesions.

If one were placed against a wall and were looking into the gun muzzles of a squad of soldiers, and were told that there were nine chances out of ten that he would not be killed outright when the volley was fired, would it help him to be told that he must not be afraid?

Such an experience would be written indelibly on his brain.

This corresponds closely to the position in which some surgical patients are placed. In railway wrecks, we can readily understand the striking difference between the after-effects in the pa.s.sengers who were conscious at the time of the accident and those who were asleep or drunk.

In the latter the noci-perceptors and receptors were not aroused, hence their immunity to the nervous shock. In the functional disturbances of the pelvic organs, a.s.sociation and summation may play a large role.

On this hypothesis many cases of neurasthenia may well be explained.

From the behavior of the individual as a whole we may well conclude that summation is but a scientific expression for "nagging."

Many other pathologic phenomena may be explained in a similar manner.

Thus we can understand the variations in the gastric a.n.a.lyses in a timid patient alarmed over his condition and afraid of the hospital.

He is integrated by fear, and as fear takes precedence over all other impulses, no organ functionates normally. For the same reason, one sees animals in captivity pine away under the dominance of fear.

The exposure of a sensitive brain to the naked possibility of death from a surgical operation may be compared to uncovering a photographic plate in the bright sunlight to inspect it before putting it in the camera.

This principle explains, too, the physical influence of the physician or surgeon, who, by his PERSONALITY, inspires, like a Kocher, absolute confidence in his patient. The brain, through its power of phylogenetic a.s.sociation, controls many processes that have wholly escaped from the notice of the "practical man." It is in accordance with the law of a.s.sociation that a flower, a word, a touch, a cool breeze, or even the thought of a fis.h.i.+ng rod or of a gun, is helpful.

On the contrary, all suggestions of despair or misfortune-- a corrugated brow, the gloomy silence of despair, or a doubtful word-- are equally depressing. In like manner, one could add many ill.u.s.trations of the symbolism that governs our daily lives.

Thus we see that through the laws of inheritance and noci-a.s.sociation, we are able to read a new meaning into the clinical phenomena of various diseases.

Observations on Patients whose a.s.sociational Centers are Dulled, and on Diseases and Injuries of Regions not Endowed with Nociceptors

Reversing the order of our reasoning, let us now glance at the patient who is unconscious and who, therefore, has lost much of the power of a.s.sociation. His mouth is usually dry, the digestive processes are at a low ebb, the aroma of food causes no secretion of saliva, tickling the nose causes no sneezing; he catches no cold.

The laryngeal reflex is lost and food may be quietly inhaled; the entire process of metabolism is low. The contrast between a man whose a.s.sociational centers are keen and a man in whom these centers are dulled or lost is the contrast between life and death.

In accordance with the law of adaptation through natural selection, phylogeny, and a.s.sociation, one would expect no pain in abscess of the brain, in abscess of the liver, in pylephlebitis, in infection of the hepatic vessels, in endocarditis.

This law explains why there are no nociceptors for cancer, while there are active nociceptors for the acute infections.

It is because nature has no helpful response to offer against cancer, while in certain of the acute pyogenic infections the nociceptors force the beneficent physiologic rest.

Could we dispossess ourselves of the shackles of psychology, forget its confusing nomenclature, and view the human brain, as Sherrington has said, "as the organ of, and for the adaptation of nervous reaction," many clinical phenomena would appear in a clearer light.

Natural Selection and Chemical Noci-a.s.sociation in the Infections

Thus far we have considered the behavior of the individual as a whole in his response to a certain type of noci-influences. We have been voicing our argument in terms of physical escape from GROSS physical dangers, or of grappling with GROSS NERVE-MUSCULAR enemies of the same or of other species. To explain these phenomena we have invoked the aid of the laws of natural selection and phylogenetic a.s.sociation.

If our conclusions be correct, then it should follow that in the same laws we may find the explanation of immunity, which, of course, means a defensive response to our MICROSCOPIC enemies. There should be no more difficulty in evolving an efficient army of phagocytes by natural selection, or in developing specific chemical reactions against _*microscopic enemies_, than there was in evolving the various nociceptors for our nerve-muscular defense against our _*gross enemies_.

That immunity is a chemical reaction is no argument against the application of the law of natural selection or of a.s.sociation.

What essential difference is there between the chemical defense of the skunk against its NERVE-MUSCULAR enemies and its chemical defense (immunity) against its MICROSCOPIC ENEMIES?

The administration of vaccines becomes the adequate stimulus which awakens phylogenetic a.s.sociation of a chemical nature as a result of which immune bodies are produced.

In discussing this subject I will raise only the question whether or not the specific character of the inaugural symptoms of some infectious diseases may be due to phylogenetic a.s.sociation.

These inaugural symptoms are measurably a recapitulation of the leading phenomena of the disease in its completed clinical picture.

Thus, the furious initiative symptoms of pneumonia, of peritonitis, or erysipelas, of the exanthemata, are exaggerations of phenomena which are a.n.a.logous to the phenomena accompanying physical injury and fear of physical violence. Just as the acute phenomena of fear, or those which accompany the adequate stimulation of nociceptors, are recapitulations of phylogenetic struggles, so may the inaugural symptoms of an infection be a similar phylogenetic recapitulation of the course of the disease. A certain amount of negative evidence is supplied by a comparison of the response to a dose of toxins with the response to a dose of a standard drug.

No drug in therapeutic dosage except the iodin compounds causes a febrile response; no drug causes a chill; on the other hand, all specific toxins cause febrile responses and many cause chills.

If a species of animal had been poisoned by a drug during vast periods of time, and if natural selection had successfully established a self-defensive response, then the administration of that drug would cause a noci-a.s.sociation (chemical), and a specific reaction a.n.a.logous to that following the administration of Coley's toxins might be expected.

Bacterial noci-a.s.sociation probably operates through the same law as that through which physical noci-a.s.sociation operates.

Natural selection is impartial, however. It must be supposed that it acts impartially upon the microscopic invader and upon the host.

On this ground one must infer that, in accordance with the same law of natural selection, the bacteria of acute infections have met by natural selection each advance in the struggle of the host for immunity. Hence the fast and furious struggle between man and his microscopic enemies merely indicates to what extent natural selection has developed the ATTACK and the DEFENSE respectively.

This struggle is a.n.a.logous to the quick and decisive battles of the carnivora when fighting among themselves or when contending against their ancient enemies. But when phylogenetically strange animals meet each other, they do not understand how to conduct a fight: natural selection has not had the opportunity of teaching them.