Berkeley and Jefferson intelligencer. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va.) 1802-1810, 1806-07-18

sidered as . contingency depending up
on artificial means, and that there is no
power, inherent in the body itself, ade-
quate to It's perpetpation even for one
moment. This is Z truth that demands
universal eognizanes, and ought never
to be forgotten. Andit is a truth, Of
equal importance. that the application of
the means to perpetuate life, can be per.
fected onfy by knowledge Of the Lav
upon which animation depends. A re.
gular impletion Of the arterial section is
the perpetual design Of this Ia,o; and
the highest degree Of that implction
compatible with an exact parity between
the efflux and influx Of the venous sect.
on, is the highest degree Of animation.
When we enter that dark recess, the
womb, We may, BY the aid of onr rea-
soning powers, discover where life DC.
GINS the cause that sets il in motion, and
the fdsO by which the animating process
is governed. The formation OF the pia-
esnta leads Us to the cause and the We.
nous delineations to tho process. No
nour ishment Gamble derived to the en-
bryo from the venous vessels, and it ID
not until after the fabricatisaef the heart,
and the admission of an adequate efFlux,
that reaction, and development begins.
The action, IN the embryo, is produced
by the piGcenfa; but when, by the ami.
mating process, the lungs are complet.
ed, and the blood IS copiously driven in.
to them, there being no power to return
itagain to the heart, an uneasiness will
be. felt and the feals will inyoluutarily
seek relief, like man smothered would
strive for open ait; and fhis disturbance
is the cause Of parturition. y, Lie now
begins upon new principle though the
operating power remains the same and
the action produced by the Piacenfa, is
transferredtothe lungs. Force and pro-
pensity to motiou are net the same, as
asserted by Doctor Brown. There may
be propensity in the muscular system
to motion, but a pfopelling power is
cessary 70 produce il. The placenta
performs this work during CESSATION, but
parturition makes the transfer TO the
lungs. The aerial int ux distendsz the
! thords, returns the blood in the longs to
the heart, and completes the pulmanory
circulation, which alone supports the ge-
neral circulation, and gives action and
reaction to the whole muscular system.
This force is necessary to the, existence
Of all animals, as it is notorious, that
the general circulation If is withheld ;
and that the pulmanory circulation is the
last that ields to the inorbi6c ,torpescent
, powers; and .1hieh proves the positions
which | have assumed, that the efflux
and influx Of the venous section governs
all the phenomena Of life and that the
parity betweenthe efilux and influx 10 the
laru Of health. The pulse may be consi-
dersd as properly enough Representing
| the effiux, but, it Is by no means an infal.
lible guide IN the practice Of physic.
shall, by and by, present criterion,
more enlightening, and certain, and
which will not detain The physician in
doubtful suspense concerning what ought
70 be done. - - r : (: - = :
1--we traverse the intermediate climates
between the polar, and equatorial re-
gions; we shall find regular graduation
in the violence Of fever as we proceed.
/ Whether heat is adiminution of cold. or
cold diminution Of heat, Il not material.
They both exert direct influence upon
the body. We arc taught by geogra.
pliers, and natural historians, that man
j. capable OF sustaining life in all the va.
| ried climates of the rlobe ). and Ria =.