THE 



PHILADELPHIA 



MEDICAL AND PHYSICAL JOURNAL. 



I. An Essay on the Influence of Air upon Animal Bodies. 

 By a Physician of Massachusetts. Communicated to 

 the Editor, by George Shattuck, M. D., of 

 Boston. 



Causa latet, vis est notissima. 



Question. — HOW does air act upon, or influ- 

 ence, animal bodies, in originating and continuing respi- 

 ration, maintaining organic motion, and preserving the 

 exercise of the vital functions ? 



What causes the first inspiration is the first object of 

 inquiry. As this is intimately connected with the 

 cause of the motion and life of animals, it will be proper 

 we should establish some general data on this subject. 



All living bodies, besides obeying the general laws 

 of attraction, repulsion, and chemical affinity, are sup- 

 posed to be endowed with some peculiar principle, by 

 which they are further connected with the rest of na- 

 ture. To this principle are to be referred sensation and 



