Thistheniswhathesaysofrespiration。But,aswesaid,allanimalsthatevidentlyrespiredosobymeansofthewindpipe,whentheybreatheeitherthroughthemouthorthroughthenostrils。
Hence,ifitisofthiskindofrespirationthatheistalking,wemustaskhowittallieswiththeexplanationgiven。Butthefactsseemtobequiteopposed。Thechestisraisedinthemannerofaforge—bellowswhenthebreathisdrawnin—itisquitereasonablethatitshouldbeheatwhichraisesupandthatthebloodshouldoccupythehotregion—butitcollapsesandsinksdown,likethebellowsoncemore,whenthebreathisletout。Thedifferenceisthatinabellowsitisnotbythesamechannelthattheairistakeninandletout,butinbreathingitis。
But,ifEmpedoclesisaccountingonlyforrespirationthroughthenostrils,heismuchinerror,forthatdoesnotinvolvethenostrilsalone,butpassesbythechannelbesidetheuvulawheretheextremityoftheroofofthemouthis,someoftheairgoingthiswaythroughtheaperturesofthenostrilsandsomethroughthemouth,bothwhenitentersandwhenitpassesout。Suchthenisthenatureandmagnitudeofthedifficultiesbesettingthetheoriesofotherwritersconcerningrespiration。
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Wehavealreadystatedthatlifeandthepresenceofsoulinvolveacertainheat。Noteventhedigestingprocesstowhichisduethenutritionofanimalsoccursapartfromsoulandwarmth,foritistofirethatinallcaseselaborationisdue。Itisforthisreason,precisely,thattheprimarynutritivesoulalsomustbelocatedinthatpartofthebodyandinthatdivisionofthisregionwhichistheimmediatevehicleofthisprinciple。Theregioninquestionisintermediatebetweenthatwherefoodentersandthatwhereexcrementisdischarged。Inbloodlessanimalsithasnoname,butinthesanguineousclassthisorganiscalledtheheart。Thebloodconstitutesthenutrimentfromwhichtheorgansoftheanimalaredirectlyformed。Likewisethebloodvesselsmusthavethesameoriginatingsource,sincetheoneexistsfortheother’sbehoof—asavesselorreceptacleforit。Insanguineousanimalstheheartisthestarting—pointoftheveins;theydonottraverseit,butarefoundtostretchoutfromit,asdissectionsenableustosee。
Nowtheotherpsychicalfacultiescannotexistapartfromthepowerofnutrition(thereasonhasalreadybeenstatedinthetreatiseOntheSoul),andthisdependsonthenaturalfire,bytheunionwithwhichNaturehassetitaglow。Butfire,aswehavealreadystated,isdestroyedintwoways,eitherbyextinctionorbyexhaustion。Itsuffersextinctionfromitsopposites。Henceitcanbeextinguishedbythesurroundingcoldbothwheninmassand(thoughmorespeedily)whenscattered。Nowthiswayofperishingisduetoviolenceequallyinlivingandinlifelessobjects,forthedivisionofananimalbyinstrumentsandconsequentcongelationbyexcessofcoldcausedeath。Butexhaustionisduetoexcessofheat;
ifthereistoomuchheatcloseathandandthethingburningdoesnothaveafreshsupplyoffueladdedtoit,itgoesoutbyexhaustion,notbytheactionofcold。Hence,ifitisgoingtocontinueitmustbecooled,forcoldisapreventiveagainstthisformofextinction。
15
Someanimalsoccupythewater,othersliveonland,and,thatbeingso,inthecaseofthosewhichareverysmallandbloodlesstherefrigerationduetothesurroundingwaterorairissufficienttopreventdestructionfromthiscause。Havinglittleheat,theyrequirelittlecoldtocombatit。Hencetoosuchanimalsarealmostallshort—lived,for,beingsmall,theyhavelessscopefordeflectiontowardseitherextreme。Butsomeinsectsarelonger—livedthoughbloodless,likealltheothers),andthesehaveadeepindentationbeneaththewaist,inordertosecurecoolingthroughthemembrane,whichthereisthinner。Theyarewarmeranimalsandhencerequiremorerefrigeration,andsucharebees(someofwhichliveaslongassevenyears)andallthatmakeahummingnoise,likewasps,cockchafers,andcrickets。Theymakeasoundasifofpantingbymeansofair,for,inthemiddlesectionitself,theairwhichexistsinternallyandisinvolvedintheirconstruction,causingarisingandfallingmovement,producesfrictionagainstthemembrane。Thewayinwhichtheymovethisregionislikethemotionduetothelungsinanimalsthatbreathetheouterair,ortothegillsinfishes。Whatoccursiscomparabletothesuffocationofarespiringanimalbyholdingitsmouth,forthenthelungcausesaheavingmotionofthiskind。Inthecaseoftheseanimalsthisinternalmotionisnotsufficientforrefrigeration,butininsectsitis。Itisbyfrictionagainstthemembranethattheyproducethehummingsound,aswesaid,inthewaythatchildrendobyblowingthroughtheholesofareedcoveredbyafinemembrane。Itisthusthatthesingingcricketstooproducetheirsong;theypossessgreaterwarmthandareindentedatthewaist,butthesonglessvarietyhavenofissurethere。
Animalsalsowhicharesanguineousandpossessalung,thoughthatcontainslittlebloodandisspongy,caninsomecases,owingtothelatterfact,livealongtimewithoutbreathing;forthelung,containinglittlebloodorfluid,canrisealongway:itsownmotioncanforalongtimeproducesufficientrefrigeration。Butatlastitceasestosuffice,andtheanimaldiesofsuffocationifitdoesnotrespire—aswehavealreadysaid。Forofexhaustionthatkindwhichisdestructionduetolackofrefrigerationiscalledsuffocation,andwhatsoeveristhusdestroyedissaidtobesuffocated。
Wehavealreadystatedthatamonganimalsinsectsdonotrespire,andthefactisopentoobservationinthecaseofevensmallcreatureslikefliesandbees,fortheycanswimaboutinafluidforalongtimeifitisnottoohotortoocold。Yetanimalswithlittlestrengthtendtobreathemorefrequently。These,however,dieofwhatiscalledsuffocationwhenthestomachbecomesfilledandtheheatinthecentralsegmentisdestroyed。Thisexplainsalsowhytheyreviveafterbeingamongashesforatime。
Againamongwater—animalsthosethatarebloodlessremainalivelongerinairthanthosethathavebloodandadmitthesea—water,as,forexample,fishes。Sinceitisasmallquantityofheattheypossess,theairisforalongtimeadequateforthepurposesofrefrigerationinsuchanimalsasthecrustaceaandthepolyps。Itdoesnothoweversuffice,owingtotheirwantofheat,tokeepthemfinallyinlife,formostfishesalsolivethoughamongearth,yetinamotionlessstate,andaretobefoundbydigging。Forallanimalsthathavenolungatallorhaveabloodlessonerequirelessrefrigeration。
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Concerningthebloodlessanimalswehavedeclaredthatinsomecasesitisthesurroundingair,inothersfluid,thataidsthemaintenanceoflife。Butinthecaseofanimalspossessingbloodandheart,allwhichhavealungadmittheairandproducethecoolingeffectbybreathinginandout。Allanimalshavealungthatareviviparousandaresointernally,notexternallymerely(theSelachiaareviviparous,butnotinternally),andoftheoviparousclassthosethathavewings,e。g。birds,andthosewithscales,e。g。
tortoises,lizards,andsnakes。Theformerclasshavealungchargedwithblood,butinthemostpartofthelatteritisspongy。Hencetheyemployrespirationmoresparinglyasalreadysaid。Thefunctionisfoundalsoinallthatfrequentandpasstheirlifeinthewater,e。g。theclassofwater—snakesandfrogsandcrocodilesandhemydes,bothsea—andland—tortoises,andseals。
Alltheseandsimilaranimalsbothbringforthonlandandsleeponshoreor,whentheydosointhewater,keeptheheadabovethesurfaceinordertorespire。Butallwithgillsproducerefrigerationbytakinginwater;theSelachiaandallotherfootlessanimalshavegills。Fisharefootless,andthelimbstheyhavegettheirname(pterugion)fromtheirsimilaritytowings(pterux)。Butofthosewithfeetoneonly,sofarasobserved,hasgills。Itiscalledthetadpole。
Noanimalyethasbeenseentopossessbothlungsandgills,andthereasonforthisisthatthelungisdesignedforthepurposeofrefrigerationbymeansoftheair(itseemstohavederiveditsname(pneumon)fromitsfunctionasareceptacleofthebreath(pneuma)),whilegillsarerelevanttorefrigerationbywater。Nowforonepurposeoneorganisadaptedandonesinglemeansofrefrigerationissufficientineverycase。Hence,sinceweseethatNaturedoesnothinginvain,andifthereweretwoorgansonewouldbepurposeless,thisisthereasonwhysomeanimalshavegills,otherslungs,butnonepossessboth。
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Everyanimalinordertoexistrequiresnutriment,inordertopreventitselffromdying,refrigeration;andsoNatureemploysthesameorganforbothpurposes。For,asinsomecasesthetongueservesbothfordiscerningtastesandforspeech,soinanimalswithlungsthemouthisemployedbothinworkingupthefoodandinthepassageofthebreathoutwardsandinwards。Inlunglessandnon—respiringanimalsitisemployedinworkingupthefood,whileinthoseofthemthatrequirerefrigerationitisthegillsthatarecreatedforthispurpose。
Weshallstatefurtheronhowitisthattheseorganshavethefacultyofproducingrefrigeration。Buttopreventtheirfoodfromimpedingtheseoperationsthereisasimilarcontrivanceintherespiringanimalsandinthosethatadmitwater。Atthemomentofrespirationtheydonottakeinfood,forotherwisesuffocationresultsowingtothefood,whetherliquidordry,slippinginthroughthewindpipeandlyingonthelung。Thewindpipeissituatedbeforetheoesophagus,throughwhichfoodpassesintowhatiscalledthestomach,butinquadrupedswhicharesanguineousthereis,asitwere,alidoverthewindpipe—theepiglottis。Inbirdsandoviparousquadrupedsthiscoveringisabsent,butitsofficeisdischargedbyacontractionofthewindpipe。Thelatterclasscontractthewindpipewhenswallowingtheirfood;theformerclosedowntheepiglottis。Whenthefoodhaspassed,theepiglottisisintheonecaseraised,andintheotherthewindpipeisexpanded,andtheairenterstoeffectrefrigeration。Inanimalswithgillsthewaterisfirstdischargedthroughthemandthenthefoodpassesinthroughthemouth;theyhavenowindpipeandhencecantakenoharmfromliquidlodginginthisorgan,onlyfromitsenteringthestomach。
Forthesereasonstheexpulsionofwaterandtheseizingoftheirfoodisrapid,andtheirteetharesharpandinalmostallcasesarrangedinasaw—likefashion,fortheyaredebarredfromchewingtheirfood。
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Amongwater—animalsthecetaceansmaygiverisetosomeperplexity,thoughtheytoocanberationallyexplained。
Examplesofsuchanimalsaredolphinsandwhales,andallothersthathaveablowhole。Theyhavenofeet,yetpossessalungthoughadmittingthesea—water。Thereasonforpossessingalungisthatwhichwehavenowstated[refrigeration];theadmissionofwaterisnotforthepurposeofrefrigeration。Thatiseffectedbyrespiration,fortheyhavealung。Hencetheysleepwiththeirheadoutofthewater,anddolphins,atanyrate,snore。Further,iftheyareentangledinnetstheysoondieofsuffocationowingtolackofrespiration,andhencetheycanbeseentocometothesurfaceowingtothenecessityofbreathing。But,sincetheyhavetofeedinthewater,theymustadmitit,anditisinordertodischargethisthattheyallhaveablow—hole;afteradmittingthewatertheyexpelitthroughtheblow—holeasthefishesdothroughthegills。Thepositionoftheblow—holeisanindicationofthis,foritleadstononeoftheorganswhicharechargedwithblood;butitliesbeforethebrainandthencedischargeswater。
Itisfortheverysamereasonthatmolluscsandcrustaceansadmitwater—ImeansuchanimalsasCarabiandCarcini。Fornoneoftheseisrefrigerationanecessity,forineverycasetheyhavelittleheatandarebloodless,andhencearesufficientlycooledbythesurroundingwater。Butinfeedingtheyadmitwater,andhencemustexpelitinordertopreventitsbeingswallowedsimultaneouslywiththefood。Thuscrustaceans,liketheCarciniandCarabi,dischargewaterthroughthefoldsbesidetheirshaggyparts,whilecuttlefishandthepolypsemployforthispurposethehollowabovethehead。
Thereis,however,amorepreciseaccountoftheseintheHistoryofAnimals。
Thusithasbeenexplainedthatthecauseoftheadmissionofthewaterisrefrigeration,andthefactthatanimalsconstitutedforalifeinwatermustfeedinit。
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Anaccountmustnextbegivenofrefrigerationandthemannerinwhichitoccursinrespiringanimalsandthosepossessedofgills。
Wehavealreadysaidthatallanimalswithlungsrespire。Thereasonwhysomecreatureshavethisorgan,andwhythosehavingitneedrespiration,isthatthehigheranimalshaveagreaterproportionofheat,foratthesametimetheymusthavebeenassignedahighersoulandtheyhaveahighernaturethanplants。Hencetoothosewithmostbloodandmostwarmthinthelungareofgreatersize,andanimalinwhichthebloodinthelungispurestandmostplentifulisthemosterect,namelyman;andthereasonwhyhealonehashisupperpartdirectedtotheupperpartoftheuniverseisthathepossessessuchalung。Hencethisorganasmuchasanyothermustbeassignedtotheessenceoftheanimalbothinmanandinothercases。
Thisthenisthepurposeofrefrigeration。Asfortheconstrainingandefficientcause,wemustbelievethatitcreatedanimalslikethis,justasitcreatedmanyothersalsonotofthisconstitution。
Forsomehaveagreaterproportionofearthintheircomposition,likeplants,andothers,e。g。aquaticanimals,containalargeramountofwater;whilewingedandterrestrialanimalshaveanexcessofairandfirerespectively。Itisalwaysintheregionpropertotheelementpreponderatingintheschemeoftheirconstitutionthatthingsexist。
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Empedoclesistheninerrorwhenhesaysthatthoseanimalswhichhavethemostwarmthandfireliveinthewatertocounterbalancetheexcessofheatintheirconstitution,inorderthat,sincetheyaredeficientincoldandfluid,theymaybekeptinlifebythecontrarycharacteroftheregiontheyoccupy;forwaterhaslessheatthanair。Butitiswhollyabsurdthatthewater—animalsshouldineverycaseoriginateondryland,andafterwardschangetheirplaceofabodetothewater;fortheyarealmostallfootless。He,however,whendescribingtheiroriginalstructuresaysthat,thoughoriginatingondryland,theyhaveabandoneditandmigratedtothewater。Butagainitisevidentthattheyarenotwarmerthanland—animals,forinsomecasestheyhavenobloodatall,inotherslittle。
Thequestion,however,astowhatsortsofanimalsshouldbecalledwarmandwhatcold,hasineachspecialcasereceivedconsideration。ThoughinonerespectthereisreasonintheexplanationwhichEmpedoclesaimsatestablishing,yethisaccountisnotcorrect。Excessinabodilystateiscuredbyasituationorseasonofoppositecharacter,buttheconstitutionisbestmaintainedbyanenvironmentakintoit。Thereisadifferencebetweenthematerialofwhichanyanimalisconstitutedandthestatesanddispositionsofthatmaterial。Forexample,ifnatureweretoconstituteathingofwaxorofice,shewouldnotpreserveitbyputtingitinahotplace,fortheopposingqualitywouldquicklydestroyit,seeingthatheatdissolvesthatwhichcoldcongeals。
Again,athingcomposedofsaltornitrewouldnotbetakenandplacedinwater,forfluiddissolvesthatofwhichtheconsistencyisduetothehotandthedry。
Henceifthefluidandthedrysupplythematerialforallbodies,itisreasonablethatthingsthecompositionofwhichisduetothefluidandthecoldshouldhaveliquidfortheirmedium[and,iftheyarecold,theywillexistinthecold],whilethatwhichisduetothedrywillbefoundinthedry。Thustreesgrownotinwaterbutondryland。Butthesametheorywouldrelegatethemtothewater,onaccountoftheirexcessofdryness,justasitdoesthethingsthatareexcessivelyfiery。Theywouldmigratethithernotonaccountofitscoldbutowingtoitsfluidity。
Thusthenaturalcharacterofthematerialofobjectsisofthesamenatureastheregioninwhichtheyexist;theliquidisfoundinliquid,thedryonland,thewarminair。Withregard,however,tostatesofbody,acoldsituationhas,ontheotherhand,abeneficialeffectonexcessofheat,andawarmenvironmentonexcessofcold,fortheregionreducestoameantheexcessinthebodilycondition。Theregionsappropriatetoeachmaterialandtherevolutionsoftheseasonswhichallexperiencesupplythemeanswhichmustbesoughtinordertocorrectsuchexcesses;but,whilestatesofthebodycanbeopposedincharactertotheenvironment,thematerialofwhichitiscomposedcanneverbeso。This,then,isasufficientexplanationofwhyitisnotowingtotheheatintheirconstitutionthatsomeanimalsareaquatic,othersterrestrial,asEmpedoclesmaintains,andofwhysomepossesslungsandothersdonot。
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Theexplanationoftheadmissionofairandrespirationinthoseanimalsinwhichalungisfound,andespeciallyinthoseinwhichitisfullofblood,istobefoundinthefactthatitisofaspongynatureandfulloftubes,andthatitisthemostfullychargedwithbloodofallthevisceralorgans。Allanimalswithafull—bloodedlungrequirerapidrefrigerationbecausethereislittlescopefordeviationfromthenormalamountoftheirvitalfire;theairalsomustpenetrateallthroughitonaccountofthelargequantityofbloodandheatitcontains。Butboththeseoperationscanbeeasilyperformedbyair,for,beingofasubtlenature,itpenetrateseverywhereandthatrapidly,andsoperformsitscoolingfunction;butwaterhastheoppositecharacteristics。
Thereasonwhyanimalswithafull—bloodedlungrespiremostishencemanifest;themoreheatthereis,thegreateristheneedforrefrigeration,andatthesametimebreathcaneasilypasstothesourceofheatintheheart。
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Inordertounderstandthewayinwhichtheheartisconnectedwiththelungbymeansofpassages,wemustconsultbothdissectionsandtheaccountintheHistoryofAnimals。Theuniversalcauseoftheneedwhichtheanimalhasforrefrigeration,istheunionofthesoulwithfirethattakesplaceintheheart。Respirationisthemeansofeffectingrefrigeration,ofwhichthoseanimalsmakeusethatpossessalungaswellasaheart。Butwhenthey,asforexamplethefishes,whichonaccountoftheiraquaticnaturehavenolung,possessthelatterorganwithouttheformer,thecoolingiseffectedthroughthegillsbymeansofwater。Forocularevidenceastohowtheheartissituatedrelativelytothegillswemustemploydissections,andforprecisedetailswemustrefertoNaturalHistory。Asasummarizingstatement,however,andforpresentpurposes,thefollowingistheaccountofthematter。
Itmightappearthatthehearthasnotthesamepositioninterrestrialanimalsandfishes,butthepositionreallyisidentical,fortheapexoftheheartisinthedirectioninwhichtheyinclinetheirheads。Butitistowardsthemouthinfishesthattheapexoftheheartpoints,seeingthattheydonotinclinetheirheadsinthesamedirectionasland—animalsdo。Nowfromtheextremityoftheheartatubeofasinewy,arterialcharacterrunstothecentrewherethegillsalljoin。Thisthenisthelargestofthoseducts,butoneithersideoftheheartothersalsoissueandruntotheextremityofeachgill,andbymeansoftheceaselessflowofwaterthroughthegills,effectthecoolingwhichpassestotheheart。
Insimilarfashionasthefishmovetheirgills,respiringanimalswithrapidactionraiseandletfallthechestaccordingasthebreathisadmittedorexpelled。Ifairislimitedinamountandunchangedtheyaresuffocated,foreithermedium,owingtocontactwiththeblood,rapidlybecomeshot。Theheatofthebloodcounteractstherefrigerationand,whenrespiringanimalscannolongermovethelungaquaticanimalstheirgills,whetherowingtodiscaseoroldage,theirdeathensues。
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Tobebornandtodiearecommontoallanimals,buttherearespecificallydiversewaysinwhichthesephenomenaoccur;ofdestructiontherearedifferenttypes,thoughyetsomethingiscommontothemall。Thereisviolentdeathandagainnaturaldeath,andtheformeroccurswhenthecauseofdeathisexternal,thelatterwhenitisinternal,andinvolvedfromthebeginningintheconstitutionoftheorgan,andnotanaffectionderivedfromaforeignsource。Inthecaseofplantsthenamegiventothisiswithering,inanimalssenility。Deathanddecaypertaintoallthingsthatarenotimperfectlydeveloped;totheimperfectalsotheymaybeascribedinnearlythesamebutnotanidenticalsense。UndertheimperfectIclasseggsandseedsofplantsastheyarebeforetherootappears。
Itisalwaystosomelackofheatthatdeathisdue,andinperfectcreaturesthecauseisitsfailureintheorgancontainingthesourceofthecreature’sessentialnature。Thismemberissituate,ashasbeensaid,atthejunctionoftheupperandlowerparts;inplantsitisintermediatebetweentherootandthestem,insanguineousanimalsitistheheart,andinthosethatarebloodlessthecorrespondingpartoftheirbody。Butsomeoftheseanimalshavepotentiallymanysourcesoflife,thoughinactualitytheypossessonlyone。Thisiswhysomeinsectslivewhendivided,andwhy,evenamongsanguineousanimals,allwhosevitalityisnotintenseliveforalongtimeafterthehearthasbeenremoved。Tortoises,forexample,dosoandmakemovementswiththeirfeet,solongastheshellisleft,afacttobeexplainedbythenaturalinferiorityoftheirconstitution,asitisininsectsalso。
Thesourceoflifeislosttoitspossessorswhentheheatwithwhichitisboundupisnolongertemperedbycooling,for,asI
haveoftenremarked,itisconsumedbyitself。Hencewhen,owingtolapseoftime,thelungintheoneclassandthegillsintheothergetdriedup,theseorgansbecomehardandearthyandincapableofmovement,andcannotbeexpandedorcontracted。Finallythingscometoaclimax,andthefiregoesoutfromexhaustion。
Henceasmalldisturbancewillspeedilycausedeathinoldage。
Littleheatremains,forthemostofithasbeenbreathedawayinthelongperiodoflifepreceding,andhenceanyincreaseofstrainontheorganquicklycausesextinction。Itisjustasthoughtheheartcontainedatinyfeebleflamewhichtheslightestmovementputsout。
Henceinoldagedeathispainless,fornoviolentdisturbanceisrequiredtocausedeath,andthereisanentireabsenceoffeelingwhenthesoul’sconnexionissevered。Alldiseaseswhichhardenthelungbyformingtumoursorwasteresidues,orbyexcessofmorbidheat,ashappensinfevers,acceleratethebreathingowingtotheinabilityofthelungtomovefareitherupwardsordownwards。
Finally,whenmotionisnolongerpossible,thebreathisgivenoutanddeathensues。
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Generationistheinitialparticipation,mediatedbywarmsubstance,inthenutritivesoul,andlifeisthemaintenanceofthisparticipation。Youthistheperiodofthegrowthoftheprimaryorganofrefrigeration,oldageofitsdecay,whiletheinterveningtimeistheprimeoflife。
Aviolentdeathordissolutionconsistsintheextinctionorexhaustionofthevitalheat(foreitherofthesemaycausedissolution),whilenaturaldeathistheexhaustionoftheheatowingtolapseoftime,andoccurringattheendoflife。Inplantsthisistowither,inanimalstodie。Death,inoldage,istheexhaustionduetoinabilityonthepartoftheorgan,owingtooldage,toproducerefrigeration。Thisthenisouraccountofgenerationandlifeanddeath,andthereasonfortheiroccurrenceinanimals。
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Itishencealsoclearwhyrespiringanimalsaresuffocatedinwaterandfishesinair。Foritisbywaterinthelatterclass,byairintheformerthatrefrigerationiseffected,andeitherofthesemeansofperformingthefunctionisremovedbyachangeofenvironment。
Thereisalsotobeexplainedineithercasethecauseofthecauseofthemotionofthegillsandofthelungs,theriseandfallofwhicheffectstheadmissionandexpulsionofthebreathorofwater。Thefollowing,moreover,isthemanneroftheconstitutionoftheorgan。
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Inconnexionwiththehearttherearethreephenomena,which,thoughapparentlyofthesamenature,arereallynotso,namelypalpitation,pulsation,andrespiration。
Palpitationistherushingtogetherofthehotsubstanceintheheartowingtothechillinginfluenceofresidualorwasteproducts。
Itoccurs,forexample,intheailmentknownas’spasms’andinotherdiseases。Itoccursalsoinfear,forwhenoneisafraidtheupperpartsbecomecold,andthehotsubstance,fleeingaway,byitsconcentrationintheheartproducespalpitation。Itiscrushedintososmallaspacethatsometimeslifeisextinguished,andtheanimalsdieofthefrightandmorbiddisturbance。
Thebeatingoftheheart,which,ascanbeseen,goesoncontinuously,issimilartothethrobbingofanabscess。That,however,isaccompaniedbypain,becausethechangeproducedinthebloodisunnatural,anditgoesonuntilthematterformedbyconcoctionisdischarged。Thereisasimilaritybetweenthisphenomenonandthatofboiling;forboilingisduetothevolatilizationoffluidbyheatandtheexpansionconsequentonincreaseofbulk。Butinanabscess,ifthereisnoevaporationthroughthewalls,theprocessterminatesinsuppurationduetothethickeningoftheliquid,whileinboilingitendsintheescapeofthefluidoutofthecontainingvessel。
Intheheartthebeatingisproducedbytheheatexpandingthefluid,ofwhichthefoodfurnishesaconstantsupply。Itoccurswhenthefluidrisestotheouterwalloftheheart,anditgoesoncontinuously;forthereisaconstantflowofthefluidthatgoestoconstitutetheblood,itbeingintheheartthatthebloodreceivesitsprimaryelaboration。Thatthisissowecanperceiveintheinitialstagesofgeneration,fortheheartcanbeseentocontainbloodbeforetheveinsbecomedistinct。Thisexplainswhypulsationinyouthexceedsthatinolderpeople,forintheyoungtheformationofvapourismoreabundant。
Alltheveinspulse,anddososimultaneouslywitheachother,owingtotheirconnexionwiththeheart。Theheartalwaysbeats,andhencetheyalsobeatcontinuouslyandsimultaneouslywitheachotherandwithit。
Palpitation,then,istherecoiloftheheartagainstthecompressionduetocold;andpulsationisthevolatilizationoftheheatedfluid。
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Respirationtakesplacewhenthehotsubstancewhichistheseatofthenutritiveprincipleincreases。Forit,liketherestofthebody,requiresnutrition,andmoresothanthemembers,foritisthroughitthattheyarenourished。Butwhenitincreasesitnecessarilycausestheorgantorise。Thisorganwemusttobeconstructedlikethebellowsinasmithy,forbothheartandlungsconformprettywelltothisshape。Suchastructuremustbedouble,forthenutritiveprinciplemustbesituatedinthecentreofthenaturalforce。
Thusonincreaseofbulkexpansionresults,whichnecessarilycausesthesurroundingpartstorise。Nowthiscanbeseentooccurwhenpeoplerespire;theyraisetheirchestbecausethemotiveprincipleoftheorgandescribedresidentwithinthechestcausesanidenticalexpansionofthisorgan。Whenitdilatestheouterairmustrushinasintoabellows,and,beingcold,byitschillinginfluencereducesbyextinctiontheexcessofthefire。But,astheincreaseofbulkcausestheorgantodilate,sodiminutioncausescontraction,andwhenitcollapsestheairwhichenteredmustpassoutagain。Whenitenterstheairiscold,butonissuingitiswarmowingtoitscontactwiththeheatresidentinthisorgan,andthisisspeciallythecaseinthoseanimalsthatpossessafull—bloodedlung。Thenumerouscanal—likeductsinthelung,intowhichitpasses,haveeachablood—vessellyingalongside,sothatthewholelungisthoughttobefullofblood。Theinwardpassageoftheairiscalledrespiration,theoutwardexpiration,andthisdoublemovementgoesoncontinuouslyjustsolongastheanimallivesandkeepsthisorganincontinuousmotion;itisforthisreasonthatlifeisboundupwiththepassageofthebreathoutwardsandinwards。
Itisinthesamewaythatthemotionofthegillsinfishestakesplace。Whenthehotsubstanceinthebloodthroughoutthemembersrises,thegillsrisetoo,andletthewaterpassthrough,butwhenitischilledandretreatsthroughitschannelstotheheart,theycontractandejectthewater。Continuallyastheheatintheheartrises,continuallyonbeingchilleditreturnsthitheragain。Hence,asinrespiringanimalslifeanddeathareboundupwithrespiration,sointheotheranimalsclasstheydependontheadmissionofwater。
Ourdiscussionoflifeanddeathandkindredtopicsisnowpracticallycomplete。Buthealthanddiscasealsoclaimtheattentionofthescientist,andnotmerclyofthephysician,insofarasanaccountoftheircausesisconcerned。Theextenttowhichthesetwodifferandinvestigatediverseprovincesmustnotescapeus,sincefactsshowthattheirinquiriesare,toacertainextent,atleastconterminous。Forphysiciansofcultureandrefinementmakesomementionofnaturalscience,andclaimtoderivetheirprinciplesfromit,whilethemostaccomplishedinvestigatorsintonaturegenerallypushtheirstudiessofarastoconcludewithanaccountofmedicalprinciples。