THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



which are continually in action for the purpose 

 of propelling or otherwise acting on the con- 

 tents ; in the intercostal muscles, and others ap- 

 propriated to respiration, we have longitudinal 

 fibres, and it is by structural modifications of 

 this description that the various kinds of contrac- 

 tion are produced. Sensibility and motion may be 

 considered as fundamental properties bestowed 

 on all organs, differing only in extent, while the 

 character of the contraction is regulated by its 

 muscular conformation and the nature of its sti- 

 mulus. These properties in the state of health 

 are uniform in their influence, but in disease they 

 are much disordered. In Enteritis the natural 

 sensibility of the bowels is heightened, and trans- 

 mits to the sensorium painful impressions, and, 

 at the same time, the anti-peristaltic action occa- 

 sionally occurs, showing that the nerves of mo- 

 tion are equally deranged. These or similar ob- 

 servations may be applied to every part of the 

 body. 



CCXXXIX. I have alluded to the stimuli 

 of several organs : it is also necessary to remark 

 that these generally place the function beyond 

 our control. The contractions of the heart, the 

 assimilation of food, and the different secretions, 

 are illustrations ; and yet we observe that the will 

 can influence certain functions which are partly 

 voluntary and partly involuntary. In what way 

 the will operates is unknown to us, nor does the 



