FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN THE BRAIN OF THE DOG AFTER REDUCTION OF CEREBRAL BLOOD SUPPLY

Abstract

The effect of changes in the circulation of the blood on the activity of the brain has been the subject of many experiments, from the classic examples (Cooper,¹in 1836, and Kussmaul and Tenner,²in 1857) up to more recent work, such as that of Pike, Guthrie and Stewart³(1906), Crile and Dolley⁴(1908), Gildea and Cobb⁵(1930) and Petroff⁶(1931). The changes in the somatic functions of the brain and medulla oblongata during acute anemia were particularly observed. Anemia was produced by means of temporary or permanent ligation of the arteries supplying the brain, by temporary arrest of the heart action or by injection of substances causing thrombosis of the arteries (Couty⁷[1887]—lycopodium; and Markwald⁸[1890]—wax). Usually the animals that survived acute anemia were observed only for short periods at intervals of a few hours or days. Changes in the higher