INTRODUCTION TO THE 



milled the means of expounding many of the animal fun&ionS, in a 

 plain and happy manner. 



We do not merely know, at prefent, that there is a gafeous produc- 

 tion, purs air, necefTary to the prefervation and continuance of animal 

 life ; but we think \ve know it is a compound fubftance, and what its 

 compound ingredients are ; we believe we can make and unmake it ar- 

 tificially, ard that nature is doing fo inceflantly : we think the term 

 " deplogifticated air" not accurately nor logically applied ; but, 

 judging from its tendency to produce fournefs when combined with 

 other bodies, we call the bads of it " the acidifying principle," and 

 the combination of that bafe with light and caloric or the matter of 

 heat, <4 oxygene gas or air," or more properly " gafeous oxyd of light." 



From noting the operation of this oxygene or principle of fouring, 

 upon various bodies, we imagine we know the compofition of acids ^ and 

 hare made out a confiderable 'ift of acidifiable bafes ; fo that the forma- 

 tion of fixed air, from oxygene and carbone, or charcoal, of nitrous acid 

 from it and azote, of vitriolic acid from the fame and fulphur, and phof- 

 phoric acid from its union with phofphorus, feem to be well eftablifh- 

 ed truths. We imagine that a certain other clafs of bodies capable of 

 combining with oxygene, but not to the point of acidity, forms there- 

 by half-acids or oxyds, and that thus the calces of metals, animal 

 blood and fecretions, as well as the farinaceous, gummy, and mucil- 

 aginous parts of phnts, are formed. 



We think the competition of water is underftood, and inftead of be- 

 ing an elementary body, as was formerly believed* that it is, in fact, 

 but the oxyde of hydrogene, or a combination of this latter fubftance 

 with the principle of acidity, but not the fouring point. 



It is confidered alfo, that more is known concerning the compofition 

 of the irritable fibre, of the adipoie matter, and of the bones : and that 

 the effects produced upon the circulated fluids by breathing, and 

 through them upon the folids cf the animal body in health, and the 

 alterations too that the liquid and firm parts undergo by impeding, 

 'vitiating, or ob(lru#ing that function, in ordinary cafes, as well as 

 in gravid females, are now better comprehended than they ufed to be. 

 Inafnmch, that after the great light thrown upon this fubject, fucceed- 

 ing authors have been enabled to drefs up the Brunonian Syttem in 

 the more recent faihion, and to fupply and adorn it with almoft all 

 that was wanting to make it additionally engaging and attrac- 

 tive. Drowning, fuffocation, fcurvy, ftone, dyfentery, peftilence, ulcers 

 and fever, have already received great elucidation, both in theory and 

 practice, from the application of chemical principles ; and we may 

 reafonably hope, that before many more years elapfe, better and more 

 correct ideas will be entertained of many articles of the materia medica> 

 and of their manner of c perating ; that a new medical nomenclature 

 (than which nothing in fcience is more wanting) will be made out ; 

 and that, from the afcertained condition of the body, and the known 

 compofition and operation of remedies, phyficians may prefcribe fairly 

 for the actual it ate of the conflitution, and the removal of the prefent 



malady, 



