A STUDY OF THE REFLEX MECHANISM OF SWEATING IN THE HUMAN BEING; EFFECT OF ANESTHESIA AND SYMPATHECTOMY

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Abstract
Various parts of the sweating mechanism were investigated separately, namely, the sweat glands themselves, the motor sympathetic fibers and the sensory temp. fibers, in order to determine whether the nervous reflex arc in whole or in part is essential for sweating in the human being. No histological change occurred in sweat glands deprived of their sympathetic nerve supply. The sweat glands themselves, in spite of severance of their sympathetic nerve supply, still responded to intracut. injs. of mecholyl and excessive local stimulation by heat. In man, the sympathetic fibers, or motor side of the reflex arc, must be intact for a normal sweating response to occur in a region remote from the heated area. In spite of the absence of sensation in a heated region, a normal sweat response can still occur on other areas. The sensory side of the reflex arc is consequently unnecessary for a normal sweating response to occur following the application of heat. This suggests that heated blood acting on the C. N. S. is the cause of generalized sweating. Whether the heated blood acts directly on the so-called heat centers or by liberating some hormone which in turn stimulates the centers is still uncertain.