It is generally accepted that the nerve centers, particularly the bulbar centers, are extremely sensitive to anoxemia, anemia and circulatory disturbances. It has been stated, moreover, that acute anemia or an arrest of circulation not only rapidly depresses but paralyzes the bulbar centers (especially the respiratory center) and that it is impossible to reestablish their functions after the heart has been stopped for more than a few minutes. Although the effects of acute anemia on the nerve centers have been studied by a number of observers,1 it appears unlikely that arrest of the entire circulation to the nerve centers was achieved by their methods. It has therefore appeared worth while to study this problem again by methods which insure beyond question the cessation of circulation to the nerve centers.
We have attempted to answer the following questions: 1. After what duration of arrest of the circulation do the principal
HEYMANS C, BOUCKAERT JJ, JOURDAN F, NOWAK SJG, FARBER S. SURVIVAL AND REVIVAL OF NERVE CENTERS FOLLOWING ACUTE ANEMIA. Arch NeurPsych. 1937;38(2):304–307. doi:10.1001/archneurpsyc.1937.02260200076006
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