Year: 1867

Great discoveries in science in modern


times are made almost daily. Many


theories, however, have descended to us


from ancient times-chiefy because they
are ancient-and no one takes the
trouble to inquire into them closely to
ascertain their soundness. Such is the
case with the generally acknowledged
and accepted doctrine that the heart is
the organ and seat of the affections.


We confidently affirm that we have
made grand discovery on this impor
tant question, this supposed physiolog
ical tact, though we have no pretense to
be professed anatomists, nor can we say
that we have gained our knowledge in
the dissecting room.


1t has been assumed that the brain is
the organ of the mind-that it is the
seat ofthe intellect-and that, if it be
diseased or destroyed, the mind suffers
with it. To that doctrin we offer no
objection.


Ithas also been assumed, and has long
been the prevailing opinion, that the
heart is the seat of the affections; and
we might quote, not only from poets
and novelists, but from much graver
and more sober literature, to prove ca
siiy that such is the general belief. All
the virtues and soft emotions, and also
their opposites, are said to proceed from
the heart varying in degree and char
acter according to the goodness or bad
ness of that belied organ.


Now to this doctrine we object: and
not only do we consider the theory a
mistake, and that it cannot stand the
test of examination, but we meet the
theory by the proposition that another
organ is really the seat of the affections,
and that the heart is not at all concern
ed in the matter. The organ we con-
tend for is the stomach.


1t is very true, and we at once ac-
knowledge, that we can bring no anat-
omical proof of our doctrine from the
structure of the stomach, nor can those
who might argue on the other side show
any such proof from the anatomy of
the heart. 1t is only by watching the
actions of each that light can be thrown
on the subject.


True, when powerful emotions of love
or hate have been excited, the hearts
action is suddenly and often violently
increased, the pulses beat fast and flu
rious, there is flushing of the face and
blush. But this is only because the
emotion disturbs the heart, as it does
the respiration, and the same effect is
produced from other than moral causes,
as by running, jumping, or any violent
and rapid bodily exercise +; also, by a
very hot room, or glass of brandy
We might as well assert that the lungs
were the seat OF the affections, for they
are disturbed by the same causes.


If the heart, as an organ, were the
seat of the affections, and of all the
tender feelings or their opposites, these
feelings would alter and become morbid,
if the heart were diseased; as we find !
the mind becomes disordered when the
brain is wrong. 1t is well known that
this is not the case.


There is disease where the heart
becomes enormously enlarged, but 1t is
not found that the moral large heart, as
it IS called, is the consequence. A man
is said to have large heart when he
shows a noble benevolence and wide
phllanthropy; but his real heart, the
organ itself, remains of it's natural size,
while possibly a miser who boards up
every penny, and never did an act of
charity in his life, dies of an enlarged
heart The heart is sometimes found
converted into a bony, half stony
structure, causing much suffering dur
ing life; but the afflicted owner of this
nard heart is often the kindest, the
ho: most tender, the most amiable of human
!" 1pei!lgs. 1t has been said of very
1otlng woman that she was all heart,
%nereas ohn in reality her heart remains un-
uaa.ged In size or in structure, and she
aotailS a5 the usual complement of legs
Sn Snu arms, and so forth. Many people
n.e na!e diseased hearts; these cases are
I'aSlly IaSy recognized by doctors, by the
HHelp Hp OF that wonderful searcter of
Mteorts, the stethoscope; but though E;
'ney have the malady for years, getting