The cerebellum in cases of lowered blood pressure and “shock,” an experimental study

Abstract

Conclusion

In drawing conclusions from this work we must bear in mind two points. The first is that the baneful effect of serious hemorrhage on the central nervous system has been well recognized for years. Hoche has shown'how rapidly the central nervous system is affected by hemorrhage and in the experimental work incident to a paper on “Hemorrhage into the Ventricles”2 I found how quickly the cortex of the brain and the lateral columns of the cord lost their faradic excitability in severe hemorrhage. Let us remember this point in considering P. 4, P. 6, P. 7 and P. 8.

The second point to bear in mind is the severity of the stimuli in P. 2. My conclusions are therefore as follows:

I. Lowered blood-pressure and peripheral trauma such as caused by surgical operations under anesthesia have no demonstrable effect on the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum.

2. The syndrome known as “shock” is totally unconnected with any demonstrable change in the Purkinje cells of the cerebellum.