AND ANIMAL LIFE. 69 



disease or derangement of the sanguineous fluid 

 on which the adaptation has to act. 



LX. The inflammation of the kidneys is an 

 illustration of the first cause. In this condition 

 its function is almost entirely suppressed ; the 

 quantity of urine which is formed is small, and 

 its discharge is accompanied by great pain. Is the 

 explanation of the phenomena to be found in 

 supposing the nerves, or in supposing the delicate 

 and beautiful structure of the parts concerned in 

 the secretion, to be diseased ? What proofs have 

 we that the nerves constitute the mechanism 

 subservient to the function? 



In hysteria the urine is pale and copious ; 

 at the termination of febrile diseases it is 

 sometimes high coloured, and deposits a thick 

 sediment : In a fit of indigestion how often 

 is it turbid or of an unusual appearance ? Are 

 these alterations the effects of a nervous affec- 

 tion, or do they depend on changes induced in 

 the quality of the blood and in its mode of cir- 

 culation ? The two latter conditions are obvious- 

 ly disturbed ; but we have no evidence whatever 

 that the nerves are equally essential to secretion, 

 or equally disturbed by circumstances. 



LXI. In acute cases of dropsy, depletion at 

 times removes quickly the accumulated fluid ; 

 and although it is almost impossible to ascertain 

 precisely the conditions of the sanguiferous sys- 

 tem which predispose to the effusion, or the 



