40 ON DEATH. 



tion given io the brain by arterial action; secondly, the 

 vivifying power of red blood. The cessation of the same 

 impulses on organic life induces death in that system, in 

 which organic sensibility and insensible organic contrac- 

 tility are last to die. Death in the heart then is felt, first 

 in the death of the animal, and secondly in that of the or- 

 ganic system of life. 



Q. Why do the vital forces continue longer in organic 

 than animal life? 



*#. Animal life having but one common centre, the 

 brain, the death of that is followed simultaneously by that, 

 of all its dependencies. In organic life there being many 

 ganglionic centres, life is there kept up longer. 



Q. Where does death from mental emotion first take 

 place? 



#. It takes place first in the heart. 

 Q. What organ is primarily affected in syncope? 

 Ji. The heart always. 



Q. What reasons do you assign for this theory of syn- 

 cope? 



/?. The passions affect organic life primarily, and not 

 animal life; the phenomena of syncope are the same 

 whether produced by the passions, by cardiac obstructions, 

 or by haemorrhage ; in the approach of syncope the sensa- 

 tion is first felt in the heart; the heart is diseased by the 

 passions, while the brain is not; the heart has direct in- 

 fluence over the brain, white cerebral influence on the 

 heart is indirect, for the heart continues to live some 

 time after the brain dies, whereas the brain dies instant- 

 ly on the death of the heart; lastly, palpitations and other 

 impressions on the heart proceed from the same causes 

 which induce syncope. 



