Cerebral Stimulation

This is a preliminary report made at this time in order to place in the hands of those interested a method of approach in otherwise inaccessible mental states. In 1916, Loevenhart, Lorenz, Martin and Malone1sought to make clinical application of previous work done in the pharmacologic laboratory2on the relation between oxygen fixation by the respiratory center and its functional activity. It was demonstrated1that sodium cyanide on intravenous injection, in proper dosage, stimulates the respiratory center in man. While working with respiratory stimulation there was observed in one case of dementia praecox a transient change in the mental state. This patient had been mute for several months. Following a period of respiratory stimulation induced by sodium cyanide, the patient made a few coherent and relevant responses to simple questions. This mental reaction was an incidental observation and, while interesting at the time, was not investigated