ill
inhibit the nerve and produce a sense of numbness in the same area
together with temporary loss of muscular control.

Osteopaths well understand how to produce either stimulation or
inhibition of the ganglia by way of the nerves passing to them from the
spinal cord, and the results of such inhibition or stimulation in any
sympathetic area can be prophesied readily by anyone who has read with
attention what I have written; for instance, in the case of inhibition
in the region of the nerves supplying the superior cervical ganglion
with nerve force, we will find, first, throughout the area of
distribution of the branches of this ganglion a relaxation of the
vascular walls. This will be marked by two indications, first, the skin
will become flushed and moist; second salivary secretion and lachrymal
secretion will be increased. Second, the vagus is now allowed full sway,
and we will find slowing of the heartbeat. It is well known that
pressure over the seat of the first spinal nerve for a very brief period
of time will control a congestive headache; the pressure in such case is
made only for so long time as to produce stimulation of the sympathetic
to greater activity, when we will attain a vaso-constrictor action,
lessen the volume of blood in the cranial cavity and so abolish the
headache. The arteries of the body may be divided into three groups, the
large, the medium-sized and the small; in the first of these we find
little muscular tissue and much elastic; in the second they exist in
about equal proportions, while in the small arteries we find much
muscular tissue and little elastic. As a consequence it is upon the
smaller arteries that the sympathetic system has its greatest effect. As
we dilate the smaller arteries and slow the heart action, it follows
that we reduce the blood pressure, as we reduce blood pressure we reduce
temperature, and within a very few minutes after the commencement of
this inhibitory pressure on the upper four cervical nerves we will find
in the large majority of cases, the capillaries over the entire surface
of the body flushed, this being accompanied by a fall in the pulse rate
and a marked diminution of the temperature. Indirectly at the same time
we produce an effect upon the lungs; as we lessen blood pressure and the
frequency of the heart action we find in accordance with the
physiological rule an alteration in the respiration, it becomes slower
and deeper. Arguing along these lines,