On vertigo or dizziness : its causes, importance as a symptom, and treatment : thesis for the degree of Doctor of Medicine / by J.B. Bradbury.

  • Bradbury, J. B. (John Buckley), 1841-1930.
Date:
1870
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On vertigo or dizziness : its causes, importance as a symptom, and treatment : thesis for the degree of Doctor of Medicine / by J.B. Bradbury. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    The sensation of vertigo would seem to be connected with vision and a want of adaptation in the muscular appa- ratus of the eye. A feeling of giddiness is experienced by some persons when walking at a considerable elevation, as on the edge of a cliff. Others even feel the sensation when remaining stationary at a considerable height. Mayo says, “we lean upon our eyesight as upon crutches,” and this statement would seem to be borne out by the above cases, in which there were no objects at hand to break the line of vision and support the gaze. The rope- dancer learns to maintain his equilibrium by the sight of distant objects and by the cultivation of his muscular sense (R. Reynolds). The giddiness of sea-sickness can be mate- rially diminished by gazing steadily at a fixed point or line, such as the line of the horizon. Flourens produced vertiginous movements in pigeons by blindfolding one eye. Giddiness is produced by certain sedatives, such as prussic acid, tobacco, and conium. According to Dr Pe- reira, an over-medicinal dose of hydrocyanic acid produces the following symptoms: “disordered and laborious respi- ration (sometimes quick, at others low and deep), pain in the head, giddiness, obscured vision, and sleepiness. In some instances faintness is experienced.” Dr Pereira was of opinion that these symptoms were due to the hydro- cyanic acid producing cerebral anaemia. Tobacco, in large doses, produces in the human subject, among other symptoms, sudden giddiness (Guy). Conium, in full medicinal doses, according to the recent experiments of Dr John Harley, occasions confused vision and a sudden feeling of giddiness. These symptoms are attributed, by this physician, to impairment of power in the muscles employed in the adaptation of the eye; for so long as his eyes were fixed on a given object the giddiness disappeared; but the instant his eyes were directed to an-