xxviii INTRODUCTION TO THE 



nifhed the means of expounding many of the animal fun&ions, in a 

 plain and happy manner. 



We do not merely know, at prefent, that there is a gafeous produc- 

 tion, pure air, neceflary to the prefervation and continuance of animal 

 life ; but we think we know it is a compound fubftance, and what its 

 compound ingredients are ; we believe we can make and unmake it ar- 

 tificially, and that nature is doing fo incefTantly : we think the term 

 " dephlogifticated air" not accurately nor logically applied; but, 

 judging from its tendency to produce fournefs when combined with 

 other bodies, we call the bafis of it " the acidifying principle," and 

 the combination of that bafe with light and caloric or the matter of 

 heat, " oxygene gas or air," or more properly " gafeous oxyd of light." 



From noting the operation of this oxygene, or principle of fouring, 

 upon various bodies, we imagine we know the compofition of ado's, and 

 have made out a confiderable lill of acidifiable bafes; fo that the forma- 

 tion of fixed air from oxygene and carbone, or charcoal, of nitrous acid, 

 from it and azote, of vitriolic acid from the fame and fulphur, and phof- 

 phoric acid from its union with phofphorus, feem to be well eftablifh- 

 ed truths. We imagine that a certain other clafs of bodies capable of 

 combining with oxygene, but not to the point of acidity, forms there* 

 by half-acids or oxyds, and that thus the calces of metals, animal 

 blood and fecretions, as well as the farinaceous, gummy, and mucil- 

 aginous parts of plants, are formed. 



We think the compofition of water is underflood, and inftead of be* 

 ing an elementary body, as was formerly believed, that it is, in fact, 

 but the oxyde of hydrogen, or a combination of this latter fubftance 

 •with the principle of acidity, but not to the fouring point. 



It is confidered alfo, that more is known concerning the compofition 

 of the irritable fibre, of the adipofe matter, and of the bones : and that 

 the effects produced upon the circulated fluids by breathing, and 

 through them upon the folids of the animal body in health, and the 

 alterations too that the liquid and firm parts undergo by impeding, 

 vitiating, or obftru&ing that function, in ordinary cafes, as well as 

 in gravid females, are now better comprehended than they ufed to be. 

 Inafmuch, that after the great light thrown upon this fubjec~t, fucceed- 

 ing authors have been enabled to drefs up the Brunonian Syftem in 

 the more recent fafliion, and, to fupply and adorn it with almoft all 

 that ww wanting to make it additionally engaging and attrac- 

 tive. Drowning, fufTocation, fcurvy, (lone, dyfentery, peftilence, ulcers 

 and fever, have already received great elucidation, both in theory and 

 practice, from the application of chemical principles ; and we may 

 reafonably hope, that before many more years elapfe, better and more 

 correct ideas will be entertained of many articles of the materia medica, 

 and of their manner of operating ; that a new medical nomenclature 

 (than which nothing in fcience is more wanting) will be made out ; 

 and that, from the afcertained condition of the body, and the known 

 compofition and operation of remedies, phyficians may prefcribe fairly 

 for the actual ftatc of the constitution, and the removal of the prefent 



malady, 



