58 DARWINIANISM. 



men in a certain early (the profane would say green) 

 stage of intellectual advance. Erasmus will account for 

 most physiological and pathological results by a sort of 

 see-saw of demand and supply like the Economists 

 namely by excess or defect of secretion or absorption 

 an expedient, or uselessly easy matter of words, 

 that is as old as Anaximenes with his TTVKVWO-^ and 



Gallstones arise, for example, " from the too hasty absorption of 

 the thinner parts of the bile," while it is from defect of absorption 

 that the liver enlarges. The dull eyes of the aged from the want of 

 moisture are owing to the exhalation being greater than the supply. 

 " The thin discharge from the nostrils in cold weather is owing to 

 the absorbent vessels becoming torpid sooner than the secerning 

 ones which are longer kept warm by the circulating blood." 

 Flowers of zinc and calcined egg-shells, if burned together with a 

 piece of scarlet cloth, cure bronchocele. "The digestion becomes 

 stronger after an emetic by an accumulation of sensorial power 

 during the decreased action of the stomach." " Sneezing consists of 

 muscular action produced by the sensorial power of sensation." 

 " Respiration is immediately caused by the sensorial power of 

 sensation in consequence of the baneful want of vital air." 

 "Swallowing our food is immediately caused by the pleasurable 

 sensation occasioned by its stimulus on the palate and fauces, and 

 is acquired long before the nativity of the animal." "Squinting" 

 say strabismus ! " is generally owing to one eye being less 

 perfect than the other ; on which account the patient endeavours 

 to hide the worst eye in the shadow of the nose ! " 



Surely it is Quacksalver himself we hear bawl, in the 

 market-place, such mouthings as these 



"The remote cause of thirst arises from the dissipation of the 

 aqueous parts of our fluids by the increased secretion of perspirable 

 matter, or other evacuations ! " "Sensitive cough (Zoonomia, ii. 181) 

 is an exertion of the muscles used in expiration excited into more 

 violent action by the sensorial power of sensation, in consequence of 

 some things which too powerfully stimulate the lungs. Of this kind 

 is the cough which attends free drinkers after a debauch ; it consists 

 of many short efforts to cough, with a frequent expulsion of half a 



