Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-06-24

OlnerWSe We might lOOh IOr most NaSA-
rhages from wounds in which capiares only are divd
ed Again if the Professors theory true, the We
locty of the blood would be greatest in the capares
and diminish in proportion the increase of the diane
ter Of the bloodvesse because the resistance would OBJ
vously diminish the velocity Of the current in proper
ton the distance from the point where the prepeng
force applied but this is the Of the fact taught
by observation But where admitting the Professors
theory, is the beauty of the law Of adaptation The
fact is the arteries and veins have each three coats and
when they terminate in capiares the two exterior 1.-THE
two sronges coats laid aside, and the walls of the
capares consist only of extension of the interior
the wsakest coat OF the arteries. On the Professors
theory this the of adaptation When the fact
that the capares perform the function termed nutr
on depOsiting materials the
consequent the dsntegraton of the solids to supply
materials for the production of muscular organic and
mental force, (Which be deposited through their
coats, for they continuous, having open mouths,
is considered, the why their coats thin is
at apparent but all these considerations protest
emphaeay against the Professors theory The fact
it is perfectly demonstrabe that the propeng force of
the blood is localized and IL will appear in the
sequel that it is coextensve with the circulation ITSELF
acting throughout the circuatory SYSTEM sanguneous
Emphatic, chylcpoietic seminal, sc.
Dr. MAcKALL, of Georgetown D. c., has recently pub
lished critical notes Carpenters Human Physiology
which contain theory of the circulation based upon The
supposon that the heart and arteries enlarge their
diaeers by the active elongation" of the muscular
fbre of these organs every renewed food of blood
enters them and that the blood enters them lis driven
into them by atmospheric pressure suppose for nothing
else could do it, to prevent vacuum, and then propelled
forward by the passive contraction" Of the muscular
fbres Of those organs. The fact determined by Dr. Ar
MOTT, already adduced invadate Baron LIEBGs heo-
ry initiates with equal force against this The Doctors
theory regarding muscular contraction in general,
which his theory of the circulation is based is that the
ARM for instance is bent by the active elongaon of
those muscles termed eznsors by anaomsts, which lie
the outside of the arm, while those muscles the
inside of the ARM termed fror relax passvey, and have
active agency bending the arm but only in straight
ening it, and vice According this theory the
effect produced by muscular action is consequence of
their eongation, Of their contraction as stated by
al other Psychologists. Now, every person can easily
convince himself Of Che faacy Of this theory by taking
hold Of fixed object and with his semi-fexed draw
himself actively towards the object while he braces his
foot against it. On then examining the state of the
muscles above the elbow with the other hand while his
muscles in this active state he will find the fexors
rigid and tense and their thickness increased while the
eztensors are the tme relaxed and SOFT show
ing that these in of inactivity while those are &C.
tee Now this single fact positively utilities the Doc
tors theory unless he prove that relaxation pro-
duces action and that action consists in the absence Of
tension; in other words that effects are produced by
passyity, and the absence of effects by activity which
is absurd When muscle is irrtated by passing cur
rent of electricity through otherwise it contracts
but eongates which proves conclusivey that its
active state consists in contraction, not in eongaton
that is the Doctors theory contravenes facts witnessed
daily by almost every observing person. Again, the
muscles much more flexible when relaxed than any
rope and yet if rope be stretched horizontally between
two heavy bodies and then weted (mostened,) it will
shrink and draw those bodies fixed its ends towards
each other, but push them apart again when it
dries and elongaes. The Doctors evidence derived from
the tongue Of the chameleon is entirely falacious The
longitudinal muscles in the tongue other pur-
pose than that of directing and retractng while the
circular fbres Though indstinct and dccael by con-
tracing diminish its diameter and consequently elon-
gate it proportonauy. The same phenomena may be
more leisurey observed in the bodies of the common
earth and Of the leech 1t appears strange that
in his zeal to promulgate avorite theory man Of the
Doctors great knowledge should lose sight of the phys
cal inability Of body flexible the muscles are and
confined too only by evelope exensibe as the skim
and contend that muscle actually pushes asunder two
bodies attached to its opposite extremes, and that
with force, in cases. equivalent the pressure of
five six hundred pounds But such is often the case
with men of the greatest scientific atainments when
they get hobby
The only additional theory that claims attention is that
first promulgated by Mrs. WILLARD, and since defended
by Dr. CARTWRIGHT, namely: That respiration operat-
ing by animal heat produces expansive power the
lungs and thus becomes the principal efficient cause of
the bloods circulation" that atmospheric air admit
ted into the lungs is the blood-moving power"
This theory, though plausible because direct infer
from observed facts, is dsproved by many other
facts. Air alone possesses motive power whatever
cannot move itself, much less it communicate motion
to other bodies unless first put in motion by extrnsc
agency Psychologists have lost sight entirely Of the
fact that the atmosphere contains all times cons
derable quantity of free electricity, which alone the
only primary motive powers of characterization and
Tepuson-belong; and that is set free when the
oxygen and nitrogen TO be separated in the lungs
the former gas entering the blood while the latter ex
PRED with the carbonc acid formed in the arteries by the
combination Of the oxygen with the carbon and hydro
gen Of the food. The air. therefore, is not the motor
agent Of the blood, but only the vehicle of that agent
But this anticipating what will hereafter be calculated
in several articles.
The fact mentioned by Dr. Elf that by the fcaus in
utero there neither is be any respiration is
alone sufficient to ignore Mrs. WILLARps theory but
there others There cases on record Of human
monstrosites in which the pulmonary arteries per-
ec;y mperyous, the blood having passed through the
ductus venosus arterosus nto the aora and by con-
Veyed to every part OF the body except the lungs which