ifi DISEASES ClassII. i. 2. 



The mafticated food ftimulates the palate, which is an organ of 

 fenfe, into fo much action, as to produce agreeable fenfation ; 

 and the mufctes fubfervient to deglutition are brought into ac- 

 tion by the fenfation thus produced. The pleafurable fenfa- 

 tion is the proximate caufe ; the action of the fibres of the ex- 

 tremities of the nerves of tafte is the remote caufe *, the fenfo- 

 rial power of irritation exciting thefe fibres of the nerves of tafte 

 into increafed action is the pre-remote caufe ; the action of the 

 mufcles of deglutition is the proximate effect ; the puihing the 

 food into the ftomach is the remote effect j and the nutrition 

 of the body is the poft -remote effect. 



Though the mufcles fubfervient to deglutition have their ac- 

 tions previoufly affociated, fo as to be excited into fynchronous 

 tribes or fuccefhve trains, either by volition, as when we fwal- 

 low a difagreeable drug ; or by fenfation, as when we fwallow 

 agreeable food ; or by irritation, as when we inattentively fwal- 

 low our faliva ; yet do all thofe three kinds of deglutition belong 

 to the refpective claiTes of volition, fenfation, and irritation ; 

 fcecaufe the firft links of thefe tribes or trains of mufcular action 

 are excited by thofe fsnforial powers, and the affociated links, 

 which accompany or fucceed them, are excited by the combined 

 powers either of volition, or of fenfation, or of irritation, along 

 with that of afibciation. 



2. Refpiratio. Refpiration is immediately caufed by the fen- 

 forial power of fenfation in confequence of the baneful want of 

 vital air ; and not from the accumulation of blood in the lungs, 

 as that might be carried on by inhaling azote alone, without the 

 oxygenous part of the atmofphere. The action of refpiration is 

 thus fimilar to that of fwaliowing our food to appeafe the pain 

 of hunger ; but the lungs being furroundod with air, their prop- 

 er pabulum, no interimmediate voluntary exertions are requir- 

 ed, as in hunger, to obtain and prepare the wanted material. 



Refpiration is fimilar to flow combuftion ; the oxygenous part 

 of the atmofphere is received through the moifl membranes, 

 which line the air-cells of the lungs, and uniting with the in- 

 flammable part of the blood generates an acid, probably the 

 phofphoric acid ; a portion of carbonic acid is likewife produ- 

 ced in this procefs ; as appears by repeatedly breathing over 

 lime water, which then becomes turbid. See Botanic Garden, 

 P.I. Canto I. 1. 401. note. 



3. Stemutatio. Sneezing confifts of mufcular actions produ- 

 ced by the fenforial faculty of fenfation ; and is an effort to dif- 

 lodge, by means of air forciblv impelled through the noftrils, 

 forne material ; which ftimulates the membrane, which lines 



them. 



