CLASS IV. i . 4. 6. OF ASSOCIATION. 397 



er power of accumulating this fluid in themfelves than others^ 

 Of which a famous hiftory of a Ruffian prince was lately pub* 

 lifhed ; who, during the clear and fevere frofts of that country, 

 could not move himfelf in bed without luminous corrufcations. 

 Such may have been the cafe of thofe people, who have been 

 related to have taken fire fpontaneoufly, and to have been reduced 

 to ames. The electric concuffion from the gymnotus electricus, 

 and torpedo, are other inftances of the power of the animal fyf- 

 tem to accumulate electricity, as in thefe it is ufed as a weapon 

 of defence, or for the purpofe of taking their prey. 



Some have believed that the accumulation or pafTage of the 

 magnetic fluid might affect the animal fyftem, and have afierted 

 that the application of a large magnet to an aching tooth has 

 quickly effected a cure. If this experiment is again tried in 

 odontalgia, or hemicrania, the painful membrane of the tooth 

 or head fhould be included between the fouth and north poles 

 of a horfe-fhoe magnet, or between the contrary poles of two 

 different magnets, that the magnetifm may be accumulated on 

 the torpid part. 



6. Qxygenatio fanguinis. The variation of the quantity of 

 oxygen gas exifting in the atmofphere muft afFecl: all breathing 

 animals ; in its excefs this too muft be efteemed a ftirnulus ; 

 but in its natural quantity would feem to aft as an influence, 

 or caufe, without which animal life cannot exift even a minute. 

 It is hoped that Dr. Beddoes's plan for a pneumatic infirmary, 

 for the purpofe of putting this and various other airs to the tefl 

 of experiment, will meet with public encouragement, and ren- 

 der confumption, aflhma, cancer, and many difeafes conquera- 

 ble, which at prefent prey with unremitted devaftation on all 

 orders and ages of mankind. 



7. HumeRatio corporis. Water, and probably the vapour of 

 water diflblved or diflfufed in the atmofphere, unites by mechan- 

 ical attraction with the unorganized cuticle, and foftens and en- 

 larges it ; as may be feen in the loofe and wrinkled fkin of the 

 hands of wafher women ; the fame probably occurs to the mu- 

 cous membrane of the lungs in moift weather ; and by thick- 

 ening it increafes the difficulty of refpiration of fome people, 

 who are faid to be afthmatical. So far water may be faid to 

 aft as an influx or influence, but when it is taken up by the 

 mouths of the abforbent fyftem, it muft excite thofe mouths into 

 action, and then acts as a ftimulus. 



There appears from hence to be four methods by which ani- 

 mal bodies are penetrated by external things, i. By their ftim- 

 ulus, which induces the abforbent veflels to imbibe them. 2. By 

 mechanical attraction, as when water foftens the cuticle. 3. By 



chemical 



