Sect. II.] Physiologi), . ' S07 



new and important light on this branch of knowledge, 

 and opened a train of investigation which here- 

 after will probably lead to still more interesting re- 

 sults. Mr. Blunienbach of Goettingen, whose phy- 

 siological labours deserve very high praise, has 

 greatly distinguished himself by his Specunen Phy- 

 siologitf t'oviparattc inter Animantia calidi Sangui- 

 nis Fivipara el Ovipa7'a*. The recent work of M 

 Cnvier, on comparative anatomy, furnishes an abun- 

 dance of the materials requisite for the extension 

 and the improvement of this part of science. 



Within a few years the irritability of vegetable;? 

 has attracted much of the attention of physiologists; 

 and the interesting facts which it offers have been 

 naturally cojnbined with the great body of corre- 

 sponding facts presented b}^ the animal kingdom. 

 Such general views penetrate deeply into the eco- 

 nomy of nature; and the light they afford may be 

 clearly discerned in an estimate of the progress and 

 present state of medical opinions. To the account 

 before given of the labours of Haller, in the former 

 part of the century, to ascertain the fundamental 

 laws of the animal economy, it would be improper 

 not to add those lately undertaken for the same pur- 

 pose by the abbe Fontana. By a series of experi- 

 ments, in v/hicli accuracy and industry are eminently 

 conspicuous, the abbe has proved, beyond the pos- 

 sibihty of doubt, the existence of a principle in the 

 animal fibre, independent of nervous i:nergy, from 

 which result, on the application of certain exciting 

 powers, the various actions suited to the support of 

 animal life. This principle, which with Haller h<? 



•'•^ ViJe Comment. Soc. PiOr. SlUth. Gotting. \^A. ix. 



