134 PHYSIOLOGY. 



consists iu the suspension of the animal functions in the brain, 

 it must suspend the voluntary actions which depend upon them. 

 But as the action of the heart goes on without any particular 

 excitement for the time, it will continue so long as life remains, 

 depending upon the common energy. With this is connected 

 the explanation of the fact, that the one action is attended with 

 fatigue, and requires alternate rest, while the other does not, 

 (CXV.)." 



The partial collapse that may take place in the brain, discovers 

 itself by the delirium which appears in a state that often occurs 

 as intermediate between sleep and waking ; and even in sleep, 

 the collapse with respect to the animal functions takes place 

 more or less entirely ; whence the sleep is with or without 

 dreaming, and the dreaming is more or less active. "See p. 146." 



C XXX IV. A still greater degree of collapse takes place in 

 the case of syncope, in which it is so great as to suspend the ex- 

 ercise of the vital functions concerned in the circulation of the 

 blood, notwithstanding the force of habit in these, and their 

 being exposed to constant stimuli. Here the collapse may be 

 very considerable ; but there still remains some degree of ex- 

 citement, while the brain can be acted upon by stimuli which 

 act only on vital powers, and while its usual excitement is still 

 recoverable by such stimuli. 



" Syncope is understood to be either a very great diminution, 

 or a total though temporary cessation of the heart's action. It 

 may arise from various causes, which, however, may be reduced 

 to two heads. 1 . Those which directly act upon the heart itself, 

 preventing the return of blood to the cavities to support its con- 

 tinued action ; and these are the causes which physicians have 

 looked for ; but it is necessary to observe, that the action of the 

 heart depends upon a constant energy of the brain ; and we can 

 perceive 2. Causes of syncope which first act upon the brain, 

 and, by suspending its actions, upon the heart. Thus, when a 

 fright, a sudden joy, and other emotions of the mind, produce 

 a syncope, there is no doubt that these act upon the brain, di- 

 minishing its excitement so far as not to be sufficient to the vi- 

 tal functions of the heart, arteries, and organs of respiration." 



CXXXV. If the collapse is still more complete and irrecov- 

 erable, it is the state of DEATH. " I am not pleased with my 



