152 DISEASES CLASS II 1. 2. 



The masticated food stimulates the palate, which is an organ of 

 sense, into so much action, as to produce agreeable sensation; 

 and the muscles subservient to deglutition are brought into ac- 

 tion by the sensation thus produced. The pleasurable sensa- 

 tion is the proximate cause; the action of the fibres of the ex- 

 tremities of the nerves of taste is the remote cause; the senso- 

 rial power of irritation exciting these fibres of the nerves of taste 

 into increased action is the pre-remote cause; the action of the 

 muscles of deglutition is the proximate effect; the pushing the 

 food into the stomach is the remote effect; and the nutrition of 

 the body is the post-remote effect. 



Though the muscles subservient to deglutition have their ac- 

 tions previously associated, so as to be excited into synchronous 

 tribes or successive trains, either by volition, as when we swal- 

 low a disagreeable drug; or by sensation, as when we swallow 

 agreeable food; or by irritations, as when we inattentively swal- 

 low our saliva; yet do all those three kinds of deglutition belong 

 to the respective classes of volition, sensation, and irritation; 

 because the first links of these tribes or trains of muscular action 

 are excited by those sensorial powers, and the associated links, 

 which accompany or succeed them, are excited by the combined 

 powers either of volition, or of sensation, or of irritation, along 

 with that of association. 



2. Respiratio. Respiration is immediately caused by the sen- 

 sorial power of sensation in consequence of the baneful want of 

 vital air; and not from the accumulation of blood in the Iungs 3 

 as that might be carried on by inhaling azote alone, without the 

 oxygenous part of the atmosphere. The action of respiration is 

 thus similar to that of swallowing our food to appease the pain 

 of hunger; but the lungs being surrounded with air, their proper 

 pabulum, no intermediate voluntary exertions are required, as in 

 hunger, to obtain and prepare the wanted material. 



Respiration is similar to slow combustion; the oxygenous part . 

 of the atmosphere is received through the moist membranes, 

 which line the air-cells of the lungs, and uniting with the in- 

 flammable part of the blood generates an acid, probably the 

 phosphoric acid; a portion of carbonic acid is likewise produced 

 in this process; as appears by repeatedly breathing over lime 

 \vater, which then becomes turbid. See Botanic Garden, P. I. 

 C. I.I. 401. note. 



3. Sternutatio. Sneezing consists of muscular actions pro- 

 duced by the sensorial faculty of sensation; and is an effort to 

 dislodge, by means of air forcibly impelled through the nostrils, 

 some material; which stimulates the membrane, which lines 



