Zoonomia; Or, the Laws of Organic Life, Vol. II

by Erasmus Darwin

[9]. Oscitatio et pandiculatio. Yawning and stretching of the limbs is produced either by a long inactivity of the muscles now brought into action, as sometimes happens after sleep, or after listening a long time to a dull narrative; or it is produced by a too long continued action of the antagonist muscles. In the former case there is an accumulation of sensorial power during the quiescence of the muscles now brought into action; which probably constitutes the pain or wearisomeness of a continued attitude. In the latter case there is an exhaustion of sensorial power in the muscles, which have lately been acting violently, and a consequent accumulation in the muscles, which are antagonists to them, and which were at rest.

These involuntary motions are often seen in paralytic limbs, which are at the same time completely disobedient to the will; and are frequently observable in very young children; and from thence we may conclude, that these motions are learnt before nativity; as puppies are seen to open their mouths before the membranes are broken. See Sect. XVI. 2.

Where these motions are observed in limbs otherwise paralytic, it is an indication that electric shocks may be employed with advantage, as the excitability of the limb by irritation is not extinct, though it be disobedient both to volition and sensation.

[10]. Tenesmus consists in violent and frequent ineffectual efforts to discharge the contents of the rectum, owing to pain of the sphincter. The pain is produced by indurated feces, or by some acrid material, as the acidity of indigested aliment; and the efforts are attended with mucus from the pained membrane. The feces must sometimes be taken away by the end of a marrow-spoon, as cathartics and even clyster will pass without removing them. It is sometimes caused by sympathy with the urethra, when there is a stone at the neck of the bladder. See Class [II. 2. 2. 7]. and [IV. 1. 2. 8].

M. M. Fomentation, an enema with mucilage and laudanum.

The common exclusion of the feces from the rectum is a process similar to this, except that the muscles of the sphincter ani, and those of the abdomen, which act along with them by the combined powers of sensation and association, are in tenesmus excited by painful sensation, and in the latter by a sensation, which may in some instances be almost called pleasurable, as relieving us from a painful one in the exclusion of the feces.

[11]. Stranguria. Strangury consists in painful efforts to discharge the contents of the urinary bladder. It is generally owing to a stone in the sphincter of the bladder; or to the inflammation of the neck of it occasioned by cantharides. It is sometimes caused by sympathy with the piles; and then is liable in women to occasion convulsions, from the violence of the pain without inflammation. See Class [IV. 2. 2. 2]. and [3].

M. M. Fomentation clyster with oil and laudanum, push the stone back with a bougie; if from cantharides give half a pint of warm water every ten minutes. Mucilage of gum arabic and tragacanth.

The natural evacuation of the urine is a process similar to this, except that the muscular fibres of the bladder, and the muscles of the abdomen, which act in concert with them by the combined powers of sensation and of association, are, in the former case of strangury, excited into action by painful sensation; and in the latter by a sensation, which may almost be termed pleasurable, as it relieves us from a previous uneasy one.

The ejectio feminis is another process in some respects similar to strangury, as belonging to the same sensible canal of the urethra, and by exciting into action the accelerator muscles; but in the strangury these muscles are excited into action by painful sensation, and in the ejection of the semen by pleasureable sensation.