Sect. II.] Physiulogy. 287 



It is astonishing tliat sucli suggestions should 

 have been so littlo known and so little attended to 

 hy succeeding physiologists, Tliey seem to have 

 attracted but sHght regard at the time of their pu]>- 

 lication, and very soon afterwards to have been 

 completely forgotten. But after all it must be 

 admitted, that the superior light of modern disco- 

 veries, reflected on organs of eager discernment, is 

 alone sufficient to enable the reader of these anti- 

 quated writings to perceive, in the few truths they 

 contain, blended and buried under so much obscu- 

 rity, mistake, and errour, the true principles of re- 

 spiration. 



There cannot be stronger proof of the fact, that 

 these obscure hints of the real use of respiration 

 were unknown or forgotten by succeeding physio- 

 logists, than may be found in the works of Ilal- 

 ler and Dr. AViiliam Hunter. The opinion of the 

 former of those great physiologists, concerning the 

 subserviency of respiration chiefly to the formation 

 of the voice has been already mentioned. Tlie 

 latter, in his introductory lecture, published in 

 1784, expresses himself as follows: — " licspiration 

 we cannot explain; VvC only know that it is in 

 fact essential and necessary to life.' Notwith- 

 standing this, wdien vrc see all the other parts of 

 the body, and their functions so well accounted fur, 

 we cannot doubt but that respiration will be so 

 likewise. And if ei'cr we should be iiappy enough 

 to fnid out clearly the object of this function, we 

 sliall, doubtless, as clearly see, that this organ is as 

 wisely contrived for an important oflice, as we now 

 see the purpose and importance of tlie heart and 

 vascular system; which, till the circulation of 



