The human brain : its structure, physiology and diseases. With a description of the typical forms of brain in the animal kingdom / by Samuel Solly.

Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The human brain : its structure, physiology and diseases. With a description of the typical forms of brain in the animal kingdom / by Samuel Solly. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    Ttibular or medullary neurine, thougli firmer than the cineritious neurine, nevertlieless, in comparison with the other tissues of the body, is soft and yielding. This want of tenacity is principally owing to the large quantity of water which enters into its composition; water actually constituting from tliree-fom'ths up to seven-eighths of its weight. Vauquelin,'whose analysis, though made as long ago as 1812, is still referred to by all our best authorities as most deserving of credit, states that the brain consists of Albumen 7*00 ^ 1 ir., f Stearine 4-531 k Cerebralfat . ^.^^j 5-23 Phosphorus . . . . . 1*50 Osmazome . . . . . . 1*12 * Acids, salts, sulphiu- . . . . 5-15 Water 80 00 100 00 M. John* is the only chemist who, in his analysis of the brain, has hitherto separately examined the grey and white matter. He has stated that the white matter contains more fat than the grey, and that its albumen is more firm. The foUomng comparative analysis was made of the brain of one of the insane patients who died at Salpetriere. Entire brain (density = 1048). Water . 77*0 Albumen ....... 9'6 White fatty matter 7*2 Red fatty matter. . . . . . . 3T Osmazome, lactic acid, and salts . . . 2*0 Earthy phosphates . . . . .1*1 White Substance. Grey Substance. Water . . . . . 73 0 . 85 0 Albumen . . . .9-9 . . 7'5 White fatty matter . . . 13'9 . I'O Red fatty matter ... 0-9 . 37 Osmazome, &c. . . . I'O . 1*4 Earthy phosphates . . . 1*3 . 1*2 * Jom-nal de Chimie Medicale, August 1835.