6 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



of immersion in fresh water, the same coldness 

 at the stomach preceded a rapid fall of the mer- 

 cury ; and these facts, together with the effects 

 I found from applying a considerable heat to this 

 part when the body was chilled with cold, con- 

 vince me that there is some peculiar connection 

 of the stomach, or of the diaphragm, or both, with 

 the process of animal heat."* 



This peculiar connection, to which Dr CURRIE 

 alludes, has nothing whatever to do with the 

 direct generation of animal heat. The state of 

 the heart and pulse, and the relief which the in- 

 dividual experiences on the application of warmth 

 to the pit of the stomach, show that the heart 

 and the lungs are oppressed by the congestion of 

 blood, and that the stomach is also in the same 

 state. From the situation of the lungs and heart, 

 it is impossible to apply any means so as imme- 

 diately to influence their functions ; but, in re- 

 gard to the stomach, liver, and spleen, the con- 

 trary is the case ; and as these are engorged in the 

 same manner as the thoracic viscera, the direct 

 application of heat produces instantaneous effects 

 in them, and the improvement is transmitted to 

 the others less favourably circumstanced. The 

 nature of this improvement is accelerated circu- 

 lation ; the blood is evacuated from the parts to 

 which the bladder is placed, as is always the case 



* Ibid, page o5> Appendix. 



