36 Mr. Marty n Roberts on the Analogy between the 



to the parts affected ; thus it has been found that no inflam- 

 mation ensues on the application of irritants to the eye, if the 

 fifth nerve expanded upon the conjunctiva be divided ; the ap- 

 plication of ammonia to an eye thus injured produced no effect, 

 while on the other eye of the animal, the nerves of which re- 

 mained untouched, a similar application produced a violent 

 inflammation. 



20. It has also been proved that division of the pudic nerve 

 completely arrested the power of producing turgescence in the 

 singular structure of the corpora cavernosa, discovered by 

 Miiller. 



21. The phenomena of blushing can be easily explained if 

 we allow that an affection of the mind produces an increased 

 neuro-electric action in the face and neck, which by compen- 

 sating for the resistance offered by the capillaries in these parts 

 to the flow of blood, they are easily injected by the force of the 

 heart, and that suffused appearance called blushing is the 

 result. 



22. The languid circulation in paralysed limbs is the effect 

 of a deficiency of neuro-electric action ; there is a greater re- 

 sistance offered to the passage of blood through the paralysed 

 capillaries, a slow and difficult circulation ensues, and when 

 this happens to excess, those vessels that before admitted the 

 red globules, now only receive lymph, and a paleness of the 

 part is the consequence, with diminished nutrition. 



23. These several phsenomena tend to prove that a change 

 of nervous action in the capillaries is sufficient to cause an in- 

 creased or diminished circulation of blood through them, and 

 I have shown this may be accomplished in inorganic bodies 

 by a change in their electric condition, and I trust the ana- 

 logy has been proved to be complete between this and the 

 nervous or neuro-electric action in the living body. Were any 

 thing wanting to confirm the present hypothesis, I may add, 

 that microscopic observation shows us the red globules of 

 blood passing through the capillaries in a state of extreme 

 self-repulsion, and also removed from the sides of these tubes. 



24. I anticipate, with some degree of satisfaction and con- 

 fidence, that the new theory I have here ventured to propound 

 of the forces tending to motion of the blood, will have the 

 effect of increasing our pathological knowledge of the various 

 changes in the circulation, and clear up many of those obscu- 

 rities that have long retarded the progress of medical sci- 

 ence. 



25. The question may be asked, whence is this electricity 

 or the neuro-electric power of the body derived ? I answer, 

 by respiration from the atmosphere; for oxygen gas, in com- 



