28o Mayow 



As to melancholia and mania, it is probable that 

 the saline-sulphureous particles of the blood detained 

 in the parenchyma of the spleen and long effervescing 

 there with the nitro-aerial spirits acquire an atra- 

 bilious and malignant character ; and that, besides, 

 they become so subtle that they penetrate deep into 

 the brain and perturb the animal spirits. For it is 

 probable that diseases of this kind which concern the 

 brain arise not so much from a diseased condition of 

 the animal spirits as from their perturbed motion 

 or even from their deficiency ; for as the animal 

 spirits consist of an ethereal matter, they canno 

 be subject to any change, as we have indicated 

 above. 



It is, besides, required for the establishment of 

 animal life and the mbtive function that the mass of 

 the blood should be impregnated with saline- 

 sulphureous particles duly perfected, so that, namely, 

 the nitro-aerial particles mixed with them may excite 

 a proper effervescence in the mass of the blood. 

 For it is necessary for the sustenance of animal life 

 that the saline-sulphureous particles of the blood 

 should, by continuous fermentation of the blood, be 

 brought to a proper volatility; so that they being 

 separated from the blood by means of the muscular 

 flesh, may be transmitted into the motor parts, as I 

 have endeavoured to show above. But if, indeed, the 

 saline-sulphureous particles are not properly exalted 

 by reason of a too slight fermentation of the blood, 

 or are not promptly enough separated from the mass 

 of the blood on account of a diseased condition of 

 the muscular flesh, the motive function can scarcely 

 be set up. And so it is probable that the spontaneous 

 lassitude and incapacity for motion which accompany 

 scorbutus and the icteric disease proceed from this 



