Popular physiology : being a familiar explanation of the most interesting facts connected with the structure and functions of animals and particularly of man

Preface

HYSIOLOGY has been too much studied as a science of opinions, and too little as a science of facts. We have had abundant reasoning from scanty observations, and endless arguments, ‘ long drawn out/ from the slenderest foundations. It is hoped this error has been avoided in the present little volume, in which it has been the object of the Author to condense as great a number as possible of well-ascertained facts, connecting them only by as much reasoning as may be necessary to elucidate their mutual relations, and ascertain, by legitimate induction, the general laws which they appear to indicate. The outline of the plan to be pursued will be found delineated at the commencement of the chapter immediately following the Historical introduction. To this, the Author has nothing to add, except that, in all instances, he has studied to avoid the use of technical terms, or, when obliged to employ them, has taken care to explain them fully, either in words or by references to the

In the course of his work the examination of theories has occasionally been found necessary, and the freedom with which he questions doctrines adplates.

IV

PREFACE.

vanced by men whose talents have gained them universal fame, may appear to some to border on arrogance and presumption. He begs earnestly to disclaim being actuated by any such feelings : he has had no object in view except the discovery of truth ; he has never for a moment supposed that his name could be placed in competition with those of the individuals alluded to ; but he has merely stated such facts, and adduced such arguments, as appeared to him inconsistent with the doctrines in question ; and by the reality of those facts, and the justice of those arguments, he desires to be judged.

It will be observed that his work embraces only those functions by which animals support their individual life, and maintain their relations with external bodies : all consideration of the functions by which the continuation of the species is insured, has been designedly omitted.

An acknowledgment of all the authorities consulted in preparing the present volume would have encumbered the pages with foot-notes of reference, and proved abundantly more pedantic than useful. It may, however, be proper to state, that of contemporary writers, the Author is most indebted to Serres, Magendie, De Blainville, Bostock, Bell, Arnott, Flourens, Edwards, Lawrence, Prichard, Desmoulins, and Yirey.

ADVERTISEMENT TO THE THIRD EDITION.

advances which have been made during the t few years in animal chemistry, as well as

the great improvements in the use and construction of

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the microscope, have led to considerable modification of many of the physiological views which prevailed at the time when the First Edition of this book was published. The whole of the volume, therefore, has been carefully revised, and such alterations made as were necessary to adapt it more nearly to the knowledge of the present day. The original plan of the work, however, was so excellent, the illustrative remarks of the Author so happy, and the reasoning for the most part so just, that the present Editor has desired, and endeavoured, to retain as much as possible. Instead of pulling down the old edifice to build one in its place more modern but perhaps less solid, the object has been rather to replace each unsound timber, each piece of defective masonry, by newer and more trustworthy materials, but to leave the main structure substantially the same.

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ADVERTISEMENT.

Notwithstanding, therefore, the considerable differences which will be detected on comparing this Edition with the last, it is hoped that the old spirit has been preserved, and that the work may prove not less acceptable than before to the general reader.

November, 1854.

ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I. PAGE

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION.

Preliminary Observations ...... i

Hippocrates and the School of Cos ; his exertions to acquire knowledge ; his doctrines. Plato ; his principles . . 3

Aristotle ; Erasistratus ; Herophilus and the Alexandrian School .....

The decline of Physiology

Galen ; his learning, genius, and piety .... 7

Revival of true Physiological inquiry by Yesalius ; he exposes the errors of Galen ; and is persecuted ... 8

Effects of his discoveries on the science .... 9

New discoveries immediately subsequent .... 9

Harvey ; the discovery of the circulation of the blood . 9

This doctrine meets with much opposition . . .10

Asellius demonstrates the lacteal vessels ; Rudbeck, Bartholin, and Jolyffe, almost simultaneously discover the general lymphatic system . . . . . .11

Malpighi and Ruysch : their injections and minute researches in anatomy . . . . . . . .11

Boerhaave : and the Mechanical School of Physiologists . 12

Hoffman and Stahl . . . . . . . .12

The Experimental School of Physiology . . . .12

Haller : his education, lectures, experiments, dissections, and writings : his high character as a philosopher and Christian ......... 14

Physiology subsequent to his days . . . . 15

U-J VO vm

Contents

ClIAPTEB IT.

LIFE AND ORGANIZATION.

The objects of Physiology : the difficulties in the pursuit : how far these difficulties can be obviated