INTEODUCTION 



BY THE TRANSLA.TOR. 



It having been thought expedient to facilitate the com- 

 prehension of the Physiological Systems laid down in this 

 volume, by a short notice of the labours and literary course of 

 the writers, I subjoin the following remarks. 



John Augustus Unzer (or Untzer) was born at Halle, 

 April 29, 1727, and commenced the study of medicine at the 

 university of his native town, when only 12 years old. He 

 showed an early inclination to neuiJo-metaphysical studies, for, at 

 the age of 18 (while yet a student), he attempted to elucidate 

 mental philosophy by the physiology of the nervous system, in an 

 essay, published anonymously, entitled ' New Views regarding 

 the Emotions,' i in which he attributed the emotions to varying 

 tension of the nerves; in the same year (1746,) he wrote a 

 defence of the doctrines of Stahl, entitled ' Thoughts on the 

 Influence of the Soul on its Body/^ also ' Thoughts on Sleep 

 and Dreams, together with a Letter showing that there may 

 be Sensation without the Head,' under the somewhat curious 

 signature of ' S. C. I. S/^ From this date to the year 1771, 

 when the work now translated was published, a quarter of 

 a century elapsed, during the whole of which period his at- 

 tention was continuously directed to his favorite subject, 

 as is shown by the essays and treatises he gave to the world 

 during that period. In 1747 he published a ' Treatise on 

 Sighing.' * On taking his Doctor's degree, in the following 

 year, he defended -his dissertation ' De Sternutatione ;' and, 



' Neue Lehre von den Gemiiths Bewegungen. — Halle, 1746. 

 ' Gedancken vom Einflusse der Seele in ihren Kbrper. — 1746. 

 ^ Gedancken vom Schlafe und den Traiimen nebst einera Send-schreiben dass man 

 ohne Kopf empfinden konne. Halle, 1746. 

 * Abhandlung vom Seufzen. Halle, 1747. 



b 



