Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-10-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
PHYsIoLoGY-No. H.-(CoscIUprD.)
The Circulation ofhe Blood.

IHS CUCNuCtUt " ne LotoOu
Having shown in my first article this subject that
Gins phenomenon Of the circulation of the blood in the hui
xH system is easily explained by the aid of we'll
sd and undsputed facts without the aid Of electricity
any other Of the mysterious powers of Nature
rsssed examine the machinery of Mr. soheterlys
.Gar of Dr. b. Dodss theory Of the circulation. It is
tHi1s=
T. That the lungs kept constantly in electro
psve condition. with respect every other part of the
sn system by the free electricity Of the air inspired
d BY the decomposition of atmospheric air in the lungs
s by electricity brought to the lungs by the pneumo
gzxfric nerves.
That the blood, in its passage through the pulmonary
z4aaries becoming equally positive with the lungs, is
pelled by them ION the principle that like eectrcties
psl another) and carries with it all the electricity
snC free, stated above.
L. That the electricity thus carried from the lungs by
ss blood gntes the carbon aud hydrogen contained in
< blood the first inspiration after birth and maintains
elae Sombustion during life.
a. That this combustion probably sets free addi-
uual quantity Of electricity and that all the electricity
sae the arteries and is set free in them is carried
ssE Try the branches Of the sympathetic Herves-which
ss,Gud and accompany the arteries to their extremi-
the centres the BRAIN the cerebro spinal
<lz. aud the sympathetic ganga, for the Of the
Hndy aud mind
Ina arteries leaves these vessels constantly negative
n BLOOD circulating in them there being de-
vnaent Of electricity in the blood they contain the
aanaianston going on to their minutest extremtes.
e. That the blood being constantly positive to the
r that contain it, they necessarily attract the blood
thruxgh their whole length thus causing it to circulate
a. Finally that the electrical inequality between
sk vessels and the blood exists throughout the
z6sstaua, thus causing the venous circulation.
.oolont %
eu which believe have fairly stated and nearly
I'm Mr. schettery's words Let now examine it.
Il The first thing that strikes the mind of exam
lining this theory is that the inspiration Of atmospheric
Is its first requisite, without which circulation
smE1 take place. How, then, it will be asked, is the
as circulation utsro caused, where there neither is
asr be any inspiration Of atmospheric air? Here
Ssa. in the very outset have fatal objection Mr.
SShoetery's theory well to that of DR.. s. Cart
.pixat aud Mrs. E. Willard. In reply this it cannot
urged that there is maternal connection, for there is
lznux, either of nerves or blood-vessels.
- This theory also violates the well-known principles
sz science of electricity for it supposes that in the
Man body all parts of which good conductors of
szcity part remain constantly in an opposite
setca state to that of the other parts and that too
any insulation Mr. Schettery forgets that cleo
uty attains when uninsuated instantaneous equil
E7a that the moment it is generated in any part of
ts system it is instantly diused throughout the whole
re- the tissues being all good conductors 1t is there
re contrary to all known electrical principles to suppose
eins different states of electricity constituting motive
srus. exist at the time, and that too perma-
usnfiy, in the human body Mr. schetterly too, sup
3ssxsfor it is but supposton after ALL and which
theory compels him to makethat the same fluids and
txhss of the body although another and con-
rted continuously, nevertheless constantly in oppo
~ states of electricity This is contrary all that
kswn of the properties of electricity, whatever may
IT, that we cannot imagine how any could entertain
ssa0h idea; yet such disregard of electrical prnc
giles does Mr.. Schetterlys theory compel him make
r tells US that one end of artery remains constantly
negative to the blood contains, while the other end is
cDnstanty positive to the same column of blood. How
Gins be- when both the artery and the blood within
good conductors of electricity, Mr.. Schetterly does
nac explain The fact is the thing is mpossible and
ffore the whole theory umbles in pieces and goes to
tD9k hiding place where he himself has already taken
fs liberty consgn the hydraulic theory of Carpenter
A6Hier, Liebig, Matteucc and all of greatest phys
4lgists-in the tomb of the Capuets. Mr.. Schetterly
n1aA<r she human body complete electrical circuit fed
by the free and combined electricity of the atmospheric
air lhaled but he does not explain how it is that this
ctrca circuit is kept up without any insulation what
and that too in tissues aud fluids which are good
ssunas1ctors of electricity
T. Mr. Scheterly informs that the blood is caused
I'm in the arteries and veins by the opposite eectr
a states of the vessels and the fluid which they
Che vessels attracting the fluid and thus drawing along
tizS he does explain how in the commencement of
c circulation the blood was enabled to take the drec
che attraction, that attraction must have been just
E IN direction another and consequently there
cnzrt1 not have been any motion at all The blood
1zc much disposed to stay in the lungs for instance
60 out of them, since the attraction was equal in
syry direction and this attraction in every direction
as operating in every part of the body at the time
et upon his theory there could not have been any
cuintJon at all
r. The look at this theory the more are we
eyxised that there could be found any making any
ersion to science who could think adopting IL and
Cha hsss surprised that although it has been
mi before the world, solitary Psychologist of
any note has ever noticed it. We do not however,
smH Il these grounds but for already assign
sA Bot these reasons not ALL We deny that there
rD ay circulation Of electricity in the human body such
NE CHS theory requires first because such circulation
6 accyicity could not exist in the tissues fluids
are stated there being insulation and the tissues
ug good conductors; and, secondly because the
rsSas experiments made detect such circulation have
@ been able to show that any such circulation whatever
csrzssed Matteuccis work is before us and in his
GsUteenth lecture, under the head No Electric Current
s1ks Nerves., we read as follows:
important search for the presence Of an electric
uent in the nerves Of aiving animal shall refrain
rsses0g here all the experiments which have been under
ctzu with this object in view which have
n ano announcement Mt one time, that this current did
rS At another time that did exist The most consci
ssaus and best established conclusion is this the present
n science and Nth the of experimenting ,ohh ,ce
"a rcsst poess syn Of the sectric found in the
ttctng animals Lectures the Phycat
1ssasssnd Of Living Beings, Lecture XIV, pp 25s, $50.
The italics in the above extract are Matteuocis We
might cite other eminent authorities the same effect
Mir Schettery, who quotes Matteucc whether directly
xii of nm