Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-02-04
TO THE EDITORS.

GENTLEMEN: Two articles have recently appeared in
your widely circulated paper, viz one Nov 22d by Dr.
Ely of the Census Bureau "the motive power of the
blood and another (Dec 10th) by Dr. Cartwright, of
New Orleans, the subject, in reply. In both
implicated, and in the last by would there
fore respectfully request to be permitted to come forward
through the same medium and define my position;
course reluctantly adopted from sense Of duty
Dr. Ely ascribes to Dr.. Cartwright theory Of which
the author viz that the chief motive power of the
blood originates the lungs in consequence of respira
ton" But Dr. Cartwright fully and generously COR
this mistake should not that ground have had
any speak. Dr. Ely, it seems, however, would
have considered that he thus deprived Of ho
nor but rather the reverse and in the of his
cusation he does Dr. Cartwright make him re-
sponsbls for doctrine which he repudates but which
belongs to me. In the time my theory is attacked
in other quarters in consequence of what Dr. Cartwright
has added to it, but which do not accept DR.. Cart
wright rejects the rationale by which, contend, the
theory that we both maintain made inteligbe and by
which it may be made available in innumerabe cases.
both the preservation of health and the of disease
and he connects with my theory hypothesis which it ap
pears to is not ineligible Of ITSELF and not made any
by the introduction Of the learned term hemato
nety, which he has invented to express it.
Thus the difference between Dr. Cartwright and myself
is in regard to the of that movement Of the blood
from the lungs which both maintain does take place
be asserting that it is life, that it is caoric
1t is not disputed that when, in living subject,
oxygen of the air inhaled by respiration meets in the
lungs with the carbon Of the blood animal combustion
ensues, and calorc is set Free About fifth part of all
the blood in the system is in the lungs and about seven
eghths of that blood is water The temperature of the
blood in the lungs is than thirty degrees higher than
that required to change water into yapor and
the blood in the lungs Is mostly III edeRo This being
the case, portion of the water in the blood IS there
changed to vapor and the ysume Of the blood becomes
expanded that it must BY the valyuac system
Iaft cda Of haas
that organ by its living rritability beats
touched by liquid; and strong valves being in
the of the its heat becomes available force
in the direction The vapor from the lungs mostly
fills the arteries but at the caparies and in the veins
it is condensed by the effect of the external air. When
the GOODNESS of death it is condensed in the
eries and the blood from the caplares of the system
goes back through the right heart to the capares Of
the lungs and thus the motion of the blood stops where
it began If resuscation occurs in the of those
agators which DR.. Cartwright made To subserve the
Of science of the dog whose vvisecton refer
red by John Bell it must be by reproducing the
tive power the lungs by artificial respiration But Dr.
Cartwright repudatlng the explanation here given, sup
poses that respiration gives life to the blood and the
blood moves not by caloric, but by life.
If we inquire what is caoric its operation and it's
power, be given ineligible to ALL and if
calorc be the motive power which mrels the blood then
may any who will take the trouble to inform himself be
in possession of principle by which he may manage his
own frame in regard to warmth and circulation with
suits certain those he produces by drawing the
hampers OF the furnace by winch his house IS heated
principle Of constant application to the physical frame,
afordipg in thousand ways and rules either to keep
health relieve diseaseperchance restore ar9wned
friend happily child who has ceased to breathe.
Dr. Ety. it is said restored his breathless infant to ife
have saved at least persons from death by cholera
and others have been restored under different circum-
stances, mentioned by DR.. Cartwright in his article
published in the Inteliigencer he supposng however,
that the principle of the restoration life impaired to
the blood in respiration. But what is life? How as a
power, it heavy unorganzed LIQUID masss
The inquiry is involved in darkness and mystery Has
life without caorc been known to iupart motion to
apd Yet that calorc without life does this is matter
of constant occurrence. And the movement may at the
time be pulsatcry and be aided by the mechanical
force of impulse as shown in my work on the motive
powers, in which is described simple apparatus by
whose means was produced circulation with pulsaton
according TO the principles herein assumed BY the aid
OF mechanician (not mere mechanic) an important
piece OF apparatus might be constructed illustrating the
human circulation, and especially the signal effects Of
position which is as yet great desideratum in ply
,ology.
Ought not subject which SO concerns the welfare Of
he human to be taken up and investigated by the
smithsonian Institution Smithson gave his wealth that
knowledge might be investigated and disseminated for
he good of mankind EMMA WILLARD
Troy, JANUARY IL, 1854.
The whole sanguinor system is in sense entirely
There is air within it. During life il is full; at
cath 1t is nearly half empty. No substance but
hanges its bulk when operated on by heat and cold.