VITALITY OF THE BLOOD. 045 



particles, as that " animal heat results from the 

 molecular vital actions of the blood " that the 

 temperature of spring, summer, and winter, de- 

 pends on the actions which make up the move- 

 ments of chemistry, geology, and life or that 

 the caloric perpetually radiated from the sun into 

 the planetary spaces, and again returned to the 

 fountain from which it sprung, depends on the 

 motions of the heavenly bodies, as that " ani- 

 mal heat results from the constant motion and 

 mutation of all the organs." 



If the vitality of the blood had not been recog- 

 nised by all antiquity, and sanctioned by the 

 universal common sense of mankind, down to 

 the time of Harvey and Willis, it would still be 

 evident from the well established fact, that all the 

 organs are formed immediately from it ; and that 

 whenever its supply is cut off, they cease to live. 

 It is therefore clear, that all the phenomena of the 

 animal economy, whether in health or disease, 

 must depend on the conditions of this important 

 fluid, which, in accordance with the doctrine of 

 Hunter, Bordeau has termed liquid flesh, and that 

 a complete knowledge of its vital properties is es- 

 sential to any sound or rational system of medical 

 theory and practice. It was justly observed by the 

 celebrated Locke, that " to mind the solid parts 

 of the body, and overlook inquiry into the fluids, 

 especially the blood, were little less improper in 

 a physician than it would be in a vintner to be 



