Posts tagged brain

Crosby’s Vitalized Phos-phites! With the nerve-giving principles of the Ox-brain and the embryo of the wheat and oat! Ox-brain. Ox-brain. Centennial Cookery Book, Sold for the Benefit of the Woman’s Centennial Organization. 1888.

Crosby’s Vitalized Phos-phites!

With the nerve-giving principles of the Ox-brain and the embryo of the wheat and oat!

Ox-brain.

Ox-brain.

Centennial Cookery Book, Sold for the Benefit of the Woman’s Centennial Organization. 1888.

Hemorrhage from eclampsia Despite knowing enough about pre-eclampsia and eclampsia to realize that they only occur in the presence of a placenta, and can only be cured by the removal of the placenta, the pathophysiology and origin of the condition(s) is still relatively poorly understood. We do know that the seizures that characterize eclampsia are due to hypertensive encephalopathy resultant of pre-eclampsia. While brain damage due to eclampsia seizures is uncommon, hemorrhage (fatal or occasionally non-fatal) was considered a “typical” outcome. The Toxemias of Pregnancy. George William Kosmak, 1922.

Hemorrhage from eclampsia

Despite knowing enough about pre-eclampsia and eclampsia to realize that they only occur in the presence of a placenta, and can only be cured by the removal of the placenta, the pathophysiology and origin of the condition(s) is still relatively poorly understood.

We do know that the seizures that characterize eclampsia are due to hypertensive encephalopathy resultant of pre-eclampsia. While brain damage due to eclampsia seizures is uncommon, hemorrhage (fatal or occasionally non-fatal) was considered a “typical” outcome.

The Toxemias of Pregnancy. George William Kosmak, 1922.

Cranial boring tools, for the relief of pressure within the skull Observations on the Nature and Consequences of Those Injuries to Which the Head is Liable From External Violence. Percivall Pott, 1768.

Cranial boring tools, for the relief of pressure within the skull

Observations on the Nature and Consequences of Those Injuries to Which the Head is Liable From External Violence. Percivall Pott, 1768.

heracliteanfire: Diseased brain. Print by William Say, after Frederick Richard Say, from 33 Plates of morbid anatomy ellucidating Dr. Bright’s works (via British Museum)

heracliteanfire:

Diseased brain. Print by William Say, after Frederick Richard Say, from 33 Plates of morbid anatomy ellucidating Dr. Bright’s works (via British Museum)

Brain displaying necrosis due to carbon monoxide poisoning In the past, carbon monoxide toxicity was not unheard of, especially during the winter. Cold nights and CO-producing fires lead to a silent death while asleep. Though people were aware that they needed ventilation when fires were burning, frigid cold outside leading to people keeping too much air out, and having a stove burning through the night (so as not to freeze to death…), led to at least several dozen documented deaths throughout the Midwestern United States in the 1890s.  A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

Brain displaying necrosis due to carbon monoxide poisoning

In the past, carbon monoxide toxicity was not unheard of, especially during the winter. Cold nights and CO-producing fires lead to a silent death while asleep.

Though people were aware that they needed ventilation when fires were burning, frigid cold outside leading to people keeping too much air out, and having a stove burning through the night (so as not to freeze to death…), led to at least several dozen documented deaths throughout the Midwestern United States in the 1890s. 

A Text-Book of Pathology. W. G. MacCallum, 1916.

The Doyen instrument and its use I’ve posted similar tools used for making trephine holes in the skull (in modern medicine, used for relieving cranial pressure in emergency situations), but none of the illustrations have demonstrated the use of the tool. On the right, you can see the Doyen instrument being used on the bony vault of the skull, with the brain underneath. Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Injuries, With and Without a Fracture of the Skull. William Sharpe, 1920.

The Doyen instrument and its use

I’ve posted similar tools used for making trephine holes in the skull (in modern medicine, used for relieving cranial pressure in emergency situations), but none of the illustrations have demonstrated the use of the tool.

On the right, you can see the Doyen instrument being used on the bony vault of the skull, with the brain underneath.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Brain Injuries, With and Without a Fracture of the Skull. William Sharpe, 1920.

Development of the brain and brain stem in the fetus This set of illustrations ends at approximately the end of the seventh month of gestation. In the last few weeks in the womb, the fetus begins to develop the characteristic sulci and gyri (the furrows and ridges of the brain, respectively) that allow the brain to have a much larger surface area, and many more neurons in the cerebral cortex (the outermost layer of the brain, responsible for most higher functions) than a smooth surface would be able to fit. Illustration by Jules Cloquet (1790-1883)

Development of the brain and brain stem in the fetus

This set of illustrations ends at approximately the end of the seventh month of gestation. In the last few weeks in the womb, the fetus begins to develop the characteristic sulci and gyri (the furrows and ridges of the brain, respectively) that allow the brain to have a much larger surface area, and many more neurons in the cerebral cortex (the outermost layer of the brain, responsible for most higher functions) than a smooth surface would be able to fit.

Illustration by Jules Cloquet (1790-1883)

Skull injury with extensive loss of cranial and cerebral substance. This patient was said to have retained many of his abilities after awaking from the repair of this injury, but had ongoing difficulties with short-term memory, mathematics, and was prone to wild mood swings at times. Anomalies and Curiosities in Medicine. George M. Gould and Walter L. Pyle, 1900.

Skull injury with extensive loss of cranial and cerebral substance.

This patient was said to have retained many of his abilities after awaking from the repair of this injury, but had ongoing difficulties with short-term memory, mathematics, and was prone to wild mood swings at times.

Anomalies and Curiosities in Medicine. George M. Gould and Walter L. Pyle, 1900.

ryanmatthewcohn: Ancient Elongated Skull with Mummified Brain Matter. Mounted by Ryan Matthew. Photo by Sergio Royzen.

ryanmatthewcohn:

Ancient Elongated Skull with Mummified Brain Matter. Mounted by Ryan Matthew. Photo by Sergio Royzen.

ryanmatthewcohn

nostalgica: Morbid anatomy plates elucidating Dr. Bright’s works, 1829, The British Museum, sourced from Morbid Anatomy.

nostalgica:

Morbid anatomy plates elucidating Dr. Bright’s works, 1829, The British Museum, sourced from Morbid Anatomy.

nostalgica

Partial Cross-Section of Adult Skull Displaying the divisions of the ear and naso-pharyngeal cavity. As you can see, even though the skull has some pretty well-defined zones and areas, everything is a lot more inter-connected than most of us learn about in grade school. The close connection between the ear canal and throat is why, when you have a sore throat, many times earaches come along with it, and why when you have a sinus headache, the ears often feel “plugged up”.  A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Ear Including a Sketch of Aural Anatomy and Physiology. D. B. St. John Roosa, 1884.

Partial Cross-Section of Adult Skull

Displaying the divisions of the ear and naso-pharyngeal cavity. As you can see, even though the skull has some pretty well-defined zones and areas, everything is a lot more inter-connected than most of us learn about in grade school. The close connection between the ear canal and throat is why, when you have a sore throat, many times earaches come along with it, and why when you have a sinus headache, the ears often feel “plugged up”. 

A Practical Treatise on the Diseases of the Ear Including a Sketch of Aural Anatomy and Physiology. D. B. St. John Roosa, 1884.

midnightgallery: Specimen jar containing piece of William Burke’s brain, United Kingdom, 1821-1870 “Sealed in this small glass specimen jar is said to be a piece of the brain of William Burke (1792-1829). He was one half of the infamous Edinburgh body snatchers known as Burke and Hare. Burke was executed in 1829 and museum records state it was, “presented by the doctor who used Burke’s body for anatomical purposes, in a sealed glass tube 3” long”. Burke and his accomplice William Hare murdered at least 16 people. They delivered the bodies to anatomy teacher Dr Robert Knox. The pair taking advantage of the lack of available cadavers for anatomical classes in Edinburgh and the high prices paid for those that were presented. The two body snatchers were eventually caught. Limited evidence saw Hare offered immunity from prosecution if he testified against Burke. This he did, and Burke was hung on 28 January, 1829. His body was publicly dissected at the Edinburgh Medical College – the same institution to which he delivered his victims.”

midnightgallery:

Specimen jar containing piece of William Burke’s brain, United Kingdom, 1821-1870

“Sealed in this small glass specimen jar is said to be a piece of the brain of William Burke (1792-1829). He was one half of the infamous Edinburgh body snatchers known as Burke and Hare. Burke was executed in 1829 and museum records state it was, “presented by the doctor who used Burke’s body for anatomical purposes, in a sealed glass tube 3” long”. Burke and his accomplice William Hare murdered at least 16 people. They delivered the bodies to anatomy teacher Dr Robert Knox. The pair taking advantage of the lack of available cadavers for anatomical classes in Edinburgh and the high prices paid for those that were presented. The two body snatchers were eventually caught. Limited evidence saw Hare offered immunity from prosecution if he testified against Burke. This he did, and Burke was hung on 28 January, 1829. His body was publicly dissected at the Edinburgh Medical College – the same institution to which he delivered his victims.”

sciencemuseum.org.uk

Lobotomy.

fuckyeahmedicalstuff:

About Lobotomy

There are nerves that connect the frontal lobes to the rest of the brain. The idea behind psychosurgery, later proven to be invalid, was that these nerves were somehow malformed or damaged, and if they were severed they might regenerate into new, healthy connections. Contrary to popular conception, the operation was not used only on psychiatric patients. Many people were lobotomized for “intractable pain”, such as chronic, severe backaches or agonizing headaches.

 

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Sagittal cross-sections of the head of Caucasian female subject, age 63.

Dissection done as a part of studies to scientifically determine typical characteristics for genders/racial descent. For centuries, people have known that people descended from different races “typically” had different characteristics from others. However, it wasn’t until the turn of the 20th century that the first big studies were done to determine exactly how different characteristics manifested themselves, and what differences were significant enough to use in identification. Though it’s still far from an exact science, those studies were the first major steps forward in working off of evidence rather than stereotypes and supposition when identifying the “race” of anthropological remains.

Proceedings of the Aberdeen University Anatomical and Anthropological Society. 1902-1904.

Brain of the Hippo Hippopotamuses are most closely related to the cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises), and are the heaviest extant artiodactyl (even-toed ungulate) - even heavier than the giraffe. Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, vol. XI. 1885.

Brain of the Hippo

Hippopotamuses are most closely related to the cetaceans (dolphins, whales, and porpoises), and are the heaviest extant artiodactyl (even-toed ungulate) - even heavier than the giraffe.

Transactions of the Zoological Society of London, vol. XI. 1885.