432 ANNUAL REGISTER, 1794. 



excites vertiginous affections. In 

 vertigo, the sensitive and voluntary 

 motions continue undisturbed. 



Drunkenness is tlie subject of" 

 nect. 21. It increases the irritative 

 motions by internal stirhulation, and 

 thus gives a great Additional quan- 

 tity of pleasurable sensation, pro- 

 ducing many sensitive motions. By 

 these effects, the associated trains 

 are disturbed and confused, volition 

 is gradually impaired, and is at 

 length totnlly suspended, with tem- 

 porary apoplexy. 



S. 22. Ueat'i of propertsih/ to mci 

 tioity repelition, and imitation. Pro- 

 pensity to action is produced by ac- 

 cumulation of sensorial pcnver in 

 cases in which its expenditure is 

 less than usual. Repelition of mo- 

 tions gives pleasure on account of 

 the superior ease with which they 

 are performed by combining habit 

 with stiuiulus. The propensity to 

 imitation is derived from the greater 

 ease with which we perform ti)at 

 action which is already imitated by 

 the fibres of the retina, than a new 

 one. Imitation is therefore a repe- 

 tition by one set of fibres of motions 

 already bsgun by another set The 

 doctor extends this principle to ac- 

 count for certain morbid phenome- 

 na, in which, disease is propagated 

 from one part of the body to ano- 

 ther, apparently without any direct 

 communication of morbid matter. 

 This section seems to us to abound 

 beyond most with fine-spun specu- 

 Liion. 



6'. 23. Of the circulatori/ system. 

 The author now proceeds to illus- 

 trate some of the phenonema of 

 diseases, and to trace out their me- 

 thods of cure. In his account of 

 the circulatory syslieni, lie affirms 

 that heat is given out by all glandu- 

 lar secretions in consequence of the 



chymical changes which the fluicls 

 undergo ; and the instances tlie he^nt 

 felt in the cheeks on blashinc;. as of 

 that kind. He supposes the red 

 veins to beabsorbing vessels, likethe 

 lymphatics, and to receive the blc J 

 from the arteries in that inode. He 

 conceives that the motions of the 

 fluids are carried on by means of two 

 stimuli; one a pleasurable sensation 

 exciting the mouth of the vessel to 

 seize what is presented, which be 

 calls glanditlar appetency ; the other 

 a kind of'aversiotii urging the heart 

 and arteries to push forward the 

 blood which they have received ; 

 and he thinks that both these sensa- 

 tions were originally felt in the em- 

 bryo, though by habit they have 

 been lost, and the irritation alone 

 remains. 



S. 24. Of the secretions of saliva, 

 and of tears, andofthe lachrymal sac. 

 Tin *•« secretions are well known to 

 aiford examples of the influence of 

 sensation over corporeal actions, and 

 therefore are ready exemplifications 

 of our author's theories. We can-" 

 not, however, agree with him in 

 his assertion, that the lachrymal sac^ 

 with its piuicla and nasal duct, is a 

 complete gland 5 since, though the 

 tears be absorbed at one end and 

 discharged at the other, they under- 

 go no cihinge in the j)a5sage. The 

 tears are separated from the blood 

 by a renl gland, the lachrymal j and 

 the other organs are only a contri* 

 vance for their conveyance. 



<S. 25. on the stomach and intes- 

 tines, gives a general account of the 

 principles of their ordinary mo- 

 tions, and also of their inverted 

 motions, occasioned by stronger 

 stimuli than usual, by disgustful 

 ideas, or by volition. Various other 

 cases of inverted motion are men- 

 tioned, a? likewise the sympathy of 



motions 



I 



