3C MEMOIR OP BARON HALLER. 



of motion. Comparative anatomy likewise informs 

 us that this membrane is simply a true cover for 

 the brain, for in some animals, as in the tortoise, it 

 is found of a cartilaginous consistence/' 



There were other points of controversy in which 

 Haller found himself early engaged. One of the 

 most important of these regarded the respiration in 

 man and the mammalia, and especially the instru- 

 mentality by which this vital function is effected. 

 M. Hamberger, an eminent professor at Jena, had in 

 1727 published an account of the mechanism of respi- 

 ration. According to his view, which was in unison 

 with the prevailing and established notions, there 

 was a permanent collection of air within the chest, 

 between the ribs and lungs, as occurs in birds ; and 

 this air exerted an influence in compressing the 

 lungs, which compression was, moreover, assisted 

 by the action of the internal intercostal muscles. 

 These opinions had, about the same time, been 

 advocated also by M. Bayle of Toulouse. In re- 

 ference to them, we shall allow Haller to speak for 

 himself: " The commentaries which in 1739 I 

 commenced to give upon the Institutes of my 

 illustrious master Boerhaave, led me to the subject 

 of the mechanism of respiration, the thoracic air, 

 and the use of the intercostal muscles. I could not 

 agree with the views of M. Hamberger, with whom 

 I was on terms of intimacy. Accordingly, I spoke 

 of him with commendation, and endeavoured to 

 treat him with politeness while commenting on his 

 hypothesis; I cherished every feeling of delicacy 



