Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1824-02-19


there be any defect Of symmetry, the nse-
quence is sn imperisction III their iunc,ion.--
Upon this principle Bchat explaas the differ I
ence between different individuals in their ma. !
lural capacity tor distinguishing accurately the
l,armous of sounds. good ear tor music, as
We express ours, Ives IN common language. ID
on, the result Il the possession Vt two symme-
tricai organs ct hearing, which transmit To The
brain sniilsr impre sslons; bad ear, on the con.
,rAry, is produced by any inequality IN The or
cans, whicb-traismIt two unequal impressions.
Thus when one, either OF our ears or eyes is
derived of It's usual degree OF sens'bdiy, we
can hear and see much better by making use
oi that alone which is uninlured, than W having
recourse 10 boli. The same remark u cNteno-
ed to the functions of smelling, tasting and
touching, and 10 the functions OF The BRAN
and muscles. But nothing like this y true tt
the Organic life, to the regus iy Of whose
operations. harmony and correspondence oi
acton is not necessary condiuon. a
The functions OF the org anic life afe COR
gantIy gong on they admit OF no interruption,
no repose; Whatever cause susI ends. but Tor
moment, tue respiration or the circulation, de-
s;io,s he. They tufm necessary and Con-
neSied series, which must be always moving on
in continued progression, hom the beginning to
the end VI existence. But IN those oi the ani-
NAL hie the case is widely different They may
| have intervals OF entire repose. The organs 1T
this lille are incapable Of constant activity, they
| become fstigued by exercise, and rtquise rest.
| This rests with regard to any particular orgar.
is The sleep OF that organ; and IN proportion 10
the extent OF the previous exercise. and the
| number OF Organs fatIgued, the state OF repose
will be partial or general. Upon this principle
! Bichat iounds his theory OF sleep. General
sleep is The combination Of the sleep OF partcu-
| lar organs. Sleep then is notany definite state,
but is 4 more or less complets rest Of the whole
| system in proportion to the number OF organs
whcf, re quire repose. The most perfect sleep
IN that where all the functions ofauina life, tue
serisations the perception, the imagination. The
| memory, the Judgment, locomotion, and voice.
are suspended; aud the various forms Of impcr.
| feet sleep exhibited in dreaming. sognnanlbu-
ism. &c are all produced BY the wakefulnc.s of
some particular organs
/ The two lives differ also in regard to habit,
the animal being much under its control, the
organic bat slightly. In the animal life habit
renders our feelings and sensations lesa intense,
whist i, eisvates ana periccts the power OF
iue ging. The eye ID no longer sensible OF The
presence Of objects 10 which it has become ia
miliarized the ear takes no notice of sounds
that are constantly repeated, the other senscs
become hardened against the operations OF a.
,ret,ls which have often existed them, but ut
me same tnse the eapacssy for Forming AN &c csi.
been gro.slng more perfect Thus piece Of
music gives at first feeling Of pleasure simply.
and nothing more; II 1t be often repeated, this
pleasure yanshes, but we become capable Of es-
tiniating the me,it of its arrangement and lar.
| mony IN The organic lie il is not so resrira-
tion, circulatlon secretion, sc. are total, With
out the dominion Of habit. and. although some
u of the functions OF tbs llfe most iniimae ely con-
nec,ed with that Ut the animal are in some
! me MI N, a
way freedom from this influence is dIslin-
gushing characteristic OF the organic lille.
!, Every thing relating to the understanding is
the attribute Of animal life; whist the passions
ON the contrary, belong to the organic life, have
their seat IN its organs. Influence them when
! they are excited into action themselves, and
are on The contrary influenced by the state OF
the orgaDs. Tie relation which, the passions
have, so remarkably, with the animal life ia in
termedate, and not direct; al the primary phs-.
nomena produ ei by then exciten,en, are exhi
blted IN the internal organs, the heart is violently
/ excited in anger, more moderately in JOY. fear |
sadness, grief produce an opposite effcct- /
! The lungs are equally affected, the respiration
! is quckened or lmpeded, sense OF oppression |
or suiiocation is brought on, according to the |
nature and degree of the passion excited. In /
various emotions we experience peculiar sensa-
tons IN the epgastrIum, sharp pain, sense Of I
sulness or Of sinking in other cases more deci- |
ded effects are produced. spasmodic Womb /
ting, copous secretion from the liver ortte !
mucous membrane at the intestines, producing |
diarfhra. All the natural gestures by which |
We attempt TO express the inte llecNial and mo- |
raj atfetuons, are so many prof. of the COR
rectness OF hese views. five wisl to indicate |
any of the phenomena Of the intellect, relating.
for instance, to memor,, TO perception, or 10 /
judgment, We carry the hand spontaneously to |
the head; but, il we would express love, 10Y, |
sadness, hatred, &c. we invoiuntarily place il |
upon the breast, the stomach. We say |
strong head, ~eil-organlzed head, to express /
the perfection OF understanding; good heart, |
or feeling heart, to express moral perfection. |
Many OF the phenemena I disease indicate tile |
same relations between the organic vscera and |
our moral affections. In the diseases of some
organs, the mind Is cheerful and happy taking
always favorable view at things and TINS even
when the disease lies at the very root OF exist
ences and, on the contrary, when some other
organs afft cie6, it is invariably gloomy and
apqrehensye, anticipating the most fearful re.
suits. and even in TRIVIAL Complaints expecting
the most fat consequences
The two lives differ also in the node and e.
pooh of their orig Inc organic IS IN activity
from the very first period of conception; the
animal enters into exercise only at birth. when
external objects offer to the new indiyidu
means of co,.nexon and relation. In the fetal
state, the economy is solely occupied in tire
formation and nutrition Of the orr ans; this is
the preparatEe stage OF existence. The organs |
which are to perform the functions OF the ami. |
NAL life, are created and perfected, bat they
are not exercised; they ara not accessible 10 the