Sect. III.] Theory and Practice of Physic. 337 



nomy in health than in disease. The fundamental 

 position, that excitabihty is accumulated and ex- 

 pended in the inverse ratio of the stimulation, ap- 

 pears to be confirmed by many i\ic[^ conct-rning 

 the application of heat and the taking m of food, 

 during the healthy states of the body, or when it 

 is only affected by cold or hunger. Whether it 

 equally hold good in the state of disease is more 

 liable to doubt. He was acquainted with only 

 one mode of action of the living principle, that 

 which has been described by a succeeding theorist 

 under the name of irritation ; while he was wliolly 

 regardless of the influence of sensation, volition, 

 and association. He neglected, or was ignorant 

 of most of the important relations which the doc- 

 trines of modern chemistry bear to the animal 

 economy, and to the composition of animal mat- 

 ter. These, however, comprise only a small por- 

 tion of the criticisms to which this system is ex- 

 posed. 



But with all these, and many more faults, it 

 cannot be denied that the praise of genius and ori- 

 ginality in an eminent degree belongs to Dr. 

 Brown. The simplicity^ comprehensiveness, and 

 consistency, as well as novelty, of his system, gave 

 it a very seducing appearance, and contributed 

 greatly to its prevalence. One of the greatest ex- 

 cellences of it, as applied not only to the practice 

 of physic, but to the general conduct and preserva- 

 tion of health, is, that it impresses on the mind a 

 sense of the impropriety and danger of suddenly 

 going from one extreme of excitement to ano- 

 ther*. 



* See Brown's Elements, passim. 

 Vol. I. ^ 



