.4yti th^ Livi7if( Sysienu 5 



HiV experiments, which excluded the agency 

 of the 4>^rves ahogether in producing the ge- 

 neral effects, resuhing from the exhibition of 

 opium, afforded considerable support to those 

 wliQ maintained 3ome nev^^^flpctripesof irritabi- 

 lity, (a) This property was considered not 

 only as not b^Jng derived from the nervous 

 $ystemi bv^t capable of being encreased, di- 



{(i) T! i.)logisl$ rejecting, the nosology :.rJ 



practice of Dr. Bio'wn as rncompatibre wifh hU funda- 

 nietltaf priW^pfes- bat »^opt^ng these, ahd Ubtng ihte 

 b6rrov»<ed-iei!«t".Af CrritabiHry rrtstcad of excitability^ alv 

 fenrptcd tq^t^i:^«h^a new hypothesis, hy expfoining aH 

 the changes, which the body underwent in a state of 

 health and dUea<(e, upon an alteration in this principle. 

 The expcrimelhfs'of Foniaha,'whi*<fh i^eW todehy (he ih- 

 /Iiienceof tH^ n6rve^, c6incki'rnw with rHis new hypnfth'tdsls 

 were eagerly Embraced by them. 



* The manner in vfhifch ibcse physiologists explained rbe 

 consumption of irriiabilily upon the application of a sti- 

 mulus, without the agency of ihe nerves was somewhat 

 curious. They supposed the prtupple of trfitabUity'waf 

 like the matrer of heat, diffusible 6\'cr every part of a 

 body endowed with it, that when aoy portion of il wai 

 destroyed by the action of a power applied (oany part, 

 the expenditure, thus occasioned, was supplied by the 

 influx of a new quantity from the general slock in the 

 syskni; tiiu^ the continued action of a siiraulant poWer, 

 ke< I ihg iip a'contJiHied e'icpenditdre;'\here would be « 

 lucce^s^on'ofnevr influxes until the wl^ote irTitabiliry of the 

 body wBs consumed by the repeated wants of that part 

 4o wbiijhllife desUuciive ^dnt w»» appli^^d. 



