Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-09-30
PHYSIOLOGY no. /.
The Circulation of he Bio


Mr. II. ScHRrrERLY, Of Michigan, announcing the dis
covery OF and the only true motiyepower causing
the circulation OF the blood in animals This
ment was exceedingly interesting 10 myself as il was
Doubtless to Psychologists general aud the more to
me because have been recently engaged in controversy
on the subject with Dr. Samuel A. Cartwright dstin-
guished physician of New Orleans.
wondering what the motvepower could be, and
what It's n'odus opsrand read the article with deep
attention. but could discover nothing in it in the shape
OF clearly announced theory The writer informed his
readers that all the great Psychologists Of the day
wrong and obscurey limited at his theory by saying
that we must look for the primary motvepower Of the
circulation to the only primary motive powers of nature
namely attraction and repusion which are the essential
characteristics only of electricity, and of that modfca
ton of electrical action termed magnetism that all
natural motion aud all changes-pbysical, chemical,
crystalline, organic and valare primarily effects of
electrical action. From this very naturally concluded
that the writer intended to say that there but
primary motvepower for every thing and that that was
electricity.
How Mr. Schetterly had succeeded in making such a
sweeping generalization Of the powers Of Nature and in
resolving the whole Of them into ONE electricity the pr
mum naobe he has not informed He will however,
allow US doubtless to express opinion that his postu
late is not entirely sefevident or course If electricity
is the motyepowcr Of every thing, he plainly asserts
then is the Of the motion of the blood and he
might have added Of the motions of the planets and
comets casting aside the theories Of Coperncus and Sir
Isaac Newton
Now, we deny all Of Mr. Schettery's premises in the
phze bare assumptions 1t is contrary to the Ba-
conian and Newtonian principles of philosophizing.
Hypothesis" says Newton, whether metaphysical
physical whether Of occult qualities mechanical have
placen experimental philosophy (Princips, book
Ill, Gen. Scholium.)
Mr. Schettery dcvotes his first six articles to the clear
ing Of the way for the of his theory.
Through all this preliminary we waded with great
patience, hoping sincerely to nd advanced such
array Of we'll established facts such emulation Of
logical arguments would the theory burst
hndh r-s all
all disappointment and confusion; for found not
thing but hypothesis piled upon hypothesis; opinions bu
not acs special pleadngs and copious extracts which
inconclusive they commoni and all made
80 support strange theory which at the close of the
sixth article made its appearance We had expected
find something at least plausible if not brillian but 10
and behold it proved to be nothing but on old theory
advanced years agb, when biology, mesmersm and
electrical psychology were 30 much in vogue At that
time certain tineran lecturer biology and electro
cal psychology named Dr. John Bokec Dods, made his
appearance this city and delivered Of lectures
in which, among other notions he announced and adyo
cated the identical theory which is presented by Mr.
Schetterly. His lectures were afterwards published in
small volume entitled The Philosophy of Electrical
Psychology" We exposed the fallacy of the theory
the time in the coUns Of of the Southern journals
but Mr. Schettery has reproduced it in able man
ner, and he socts the closest scientific scrutiny"
we cheerfuly enter upon its examination again.
AS in all scientific Investigations object should be
simply the discovery of truths, facts We in accord
DANCE with the received rules Of philosophizing shall
discard theory conclusion based
ndisputable facts and experiments This is the way
make progress in science We shall therefore examine
the data upon which Mr. Schettery bases his theory in
the order in which find them after first correcting
small into which he has fallen in regard to the pre-
else theory of the circulation which adopt He says
Dr. Harvey the discovere the circulation attributed
the motion Of the blood ccsire to the muscular
ton of the heart This is the theory advocated
by DIR. Ely"
We have advocated the theory that the circua-
ton of the blood is the result exclusively of the muscular
contractions Of the heart Mr. Schettery will readily
see by looking what have written on the subject in
the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal" and
elsewhere. The theory which we adopt is based upon
known facts alone and involves several
circulation, the principal of which is that Of the
lar contractions Of the there are three vare
ties of circulation of blood in the human body theory
be complete which does not embrace them all These
varieties the Systemic, the Venons and the Portal
We will explain them according to our theory:
The Systemic Circulation.
l. The systemic circulation or the circulation of the
blood in the arteries is carried chiefly blythe contrac
tons of the heart the power of which is distinctly vis
BILE even in the mnutest systemic capares of every
of the system The systemic circulation is the most i'm
porant of ALL its ramifcations extending every tissue
aud fibre Of the body carries the
rial blood to every part That the heart crculaes the
blood in the arteries is feet which demon
strate. We it; the contractions of
the heart and the Simultaneous circulation of the artera
blood and deny this fact is to deny the evidence of
our senses. Even in the mnutest systemic capilares
microscopic observation reveals the pulsations of the
heart and distinct circulation where the diameter of the
capillares is not more than the $500 of an inch.
THAT the of the blood" says Dr. Carpenter or
London Of the most eminent of living
through tho arteral trunks and the capillary tubes II
man and in other warm-blooded animals chiefly dependant
upon the action of the heart there be doubt
1t be easily shown, by experiment that if the aeria
DO checked the caplares will instantly
entirely deliver the blood into the veins
circulation will be fundamentally arrested. And has also
proved that the usual force Of the heart suo
through the caparics into the veins since less force
win prope warm water through the vessels Of ami
NAL recently eadt Carpenters Physiology, 7l0)
g. Thus far We have considered the ris tego Of the
systemic circulation. Let now look the onte
This resides in the caparies of both the systemic and
system, and its existence to the following
principle established by experiment:
"That if two liquids communicate with another in
capillary tube or in parenchymaous structure,
ties will ensue that fluid which has the most
ergec affinity viii with the greatest velocity, and may
even drive the other fud entirely before it."
This is the important principle Of endosnose and
NOSE and the application Of 1t to the circulation of the
blood is easy The anastomosng caplaries Of the arte
rial and venous systems contain arerial blood
side and venous on the other the former having strong
affinity for the capillary tubes and the latter scarcely any
or at oil. The necessary consequence is motion
of the blood from the arteral to the systems and
this constituting powerful onfe is taking place
constantly in every part of the body(S Prof Diapers
Organization Of Plants 81 ss, 10s 100, no. 111
Here then by the application of senses and
disputed facts fully account for the circulation Of the
blood in the arteries without any necessity for calling in
the aid OF electricity any occult agents whatcver and
is contrary all rules Of phlosophzng to attempt to
hv thetic