CHAPTER VI 



The Cause of the Coagulation of the Blood : 

 A Problem in Physiology 



IF the state of development of a science may be judged 

 by the amount of literature to which it has given rise, with- 

 out regarding its accuracy either in fact or inference, Physi- 

 ology attained to considerable proportions even among the 

 Egyptians, which would place it among the oldest of the 

 sciences. If, on the contrary, the development of a science 

 varies as the truth of its data and the finality of its theories, 

 Physiology is modern indeed, and has much progress still to 

 make. It is not to be wondered at that the working of 

 the animal body has at all times occupied the thoughts of 

 philosophers. 



Physiology differs from most other branches of science in 

 that it has no predominant problems. For ages its votaries 

 were engaged in a vague quest for the Principle of Life, but 

 as knowledge increased it was realised that the phenomena 

 exhibited by a living thing are in every respect comparable 

 to, are indeed the results of, the action of forces in the 

 world outside the body. The doctrine of Vitalism has been 

 abandoned. No longer does the physiologist seek for any 

 wide generalization which shall illuminate every department 

 of his subject. He recognises that as the body consists of 

 many organs, each organ of tissues, and every tissue of cells, 

 he has before him a vast number of problems all of equal 

 importance to the complete understanding of the mechanism 

 of the living body. 



(105) 



