306 Med feme. [CuatAV. 



Within the period assigned to this retrospect, 

 the functions and laws of the Nervous System have 

 been investigated with the greatest zeal. Wilhs, 

 in tlie seventeenth century, had laid the foundation 

 of this improvement, by his accurate description 

 of the brain and nen^s. Vieussens, in his Neuro- 

 graphiay pursued the subject with much discern- 

 ment. Early in the eighteenth century Hoffmann 

 still further prosecuted this inquiry; and, at a 

 more advanced period of it. Dr. Cullen exerted 

 all his powers in the same course. The use made 

 by the two latter of the knowledge gained on this 

 subject, in constructing their medical theories, will 

 be mentioned more particularly uhder the succeed- 

 ing head. 



Coinparative physiology has been cultivated with 

 j^reat ardour and success in the course of the cen- 

 tury now under contemplation. Haller, though 

 chiefly devoted to human physiology, did. not neg- 

 lect the instruction which may be derived from a 

 comparative view of the functions of man and 

 other animals. The Hunters, the Monroes, and 

 most of the other distinguished anatomists of thfe 

 late century^ laboured in this field with the utmost 

 zeal and assiduity. The great anatomical work 

 planned by Vicq-d'-Azyr, that was mentioned 

 \mder the preceding head, was principally designed 

 to deduce a body of physiological principles, which, 

 by comparison, might illustrate the functions of 

 the whole animal kingdom. The numerous com- 

 parative inquiries concerning animals of warm and 

 cold blood, and those which, in respect of the 

 fuiK'tion of generation, are distinguished into vi- 

 Tiparous and oviparous, liave already thrown much 



