150 CAPILLARY SYSTEMS. 



from this separate view of the general and capillary cir- 

 culation ? 



#. That by general blood-letting you do affect the ge- 

 neral circulation, but at the same time you do not neces- 

 sarily remove local irritation or capillary congestion. 



Of the Capillaries considered as the seat of the produc- 

 tion of tftnimal Heat. 



Q. What is Bichat's theory of animal heat? 



Jl. That caloric is taken in the processes of digestion, 

 respiration, and perhaps by cutaneous absorption; in the 

 general circulation it is combined; in the capillaries it is 

 evolved, giving out animal heat. Thus it is with nutri- 

 tive matter; it is taken in, combined with the general, and 

 separated in the capillary system. 



Q. What then is the process of animal heat? 



t/?. It is a function of the general capillary system. 



Q. How is this explanation more probable and rational 

 than the chemical, and mechanical theories of heat? 



Ji. It is founded on a uniformity in the operations of 

 physiological nature. 



Q. Is animal heat greater in animals that respire? 



/?. It is; and the size of the lungs seems to influence 

 the temperature. 



Q. Does pathology confirm this theory of animal heat? 



Ji. It does; animal heat is dependant on the state of the 

 vital forces ; and when these forces are increased in inflam- 

 mation and in disease, the heat is increased. On the con- 

 trary, in those cases where the vital forces are diminish- 

 ed, the heat is lessened. 



