Sect. III.] llicorij and Practice of Fhj/sic. 3Q3 



many occasions he iina«i:incs the soul to act inde- 

 pendemly of the state of the ]>ody; and that, with- 

 out any physical necessity arising from a particular 

 state, the soul, merely in consequence of its intelli- 

 gence, perceiving the aj)plication of noxious powers, 

 or the ap])r6ach of disease from any cause, imme- 

 diately excites such motions in the hody as are 

 suited to ob\ iate the hurtful or pernicious effects 

 which might otherwise take place. He sometimes 

 mentions two opposite princi})les or propensities in 

 the human frame; one constantly and unifonnly 

 tending to corruption and decay, the other to life 

 and health; the former founded on the elementarv 

 composition of the body, the latter depending im- 

 mediately on the energy of the mind or soul. B\ 

 means of the nerves, the influence of the soul is ex- 

 tended to every part of the system ; and if their 

 action be impeded or deranged, disease is tlje un- 

 avoidable consequence. A plethora and lentor of tlu' 

 blood are therefore the proximate causes of disease, 

 as the energy of the mind i5 thereby diminished, 

 and its action on the body obstructed. Hence, to 

 lessen the quantit}', and to break down the Iciitor 

 of the blood, the soul exerts all its powers, and ex- 

 cites haemorrhages, sweats, diarrhoeas, fevers, and tlie 

 like. These efforts are sometimes hap])y and suc- 

 cessful; at otlier times they tail to answer tiie pur- 

 pose, and may oceasionall\' even do mischief, espe- 

 cially w^hen opposed by the imj^roper interference 

 of physicians, or by some internal, acGidental, or 

 organic, impediment. 



only the vlfal principle of :\u organi'ed boJv.'* Zirtimermann on 

 Experience, vol. i, p. U"^ 



