AND ANIMAL LIFE. 285 



the pulsations of the heart are more numerous 

 and regular than at any subsequent period. From 

 the force of the circulation, the energy of each 

 organ, and the unclouded serenity of the mind, 

 there are few causes capable of producing an 

 overcharged state of the lungs. 



CCCVII. Palpitation of the heart occurs 

 very frequently in the constitution of the female 

 at two very different periods of life. On the de- 

 velopment of the uterine functions, the circula- 

 tion of the blood undergoes great changes ; new 

 demands are made, and the regular course of the 

 vital fluid is directed to other organs. But these 

 important alterations are not immediately esta- 

 blished, and, until they are, disorders in the cir- 

 culation, disturbing the motion of the heart, are 

 extremely liable to occur. When these organs 

 are fully formed, the delicacy of their functions 

 is subject to the influence of many circumstances, 

 all of which act powerfully on the distribution of 

 the blood. At the latter period of life, the de- 

 mands of these parts of the system are diminish- 

 ed. The blood, which has for a series of years 

 been determined here to supply the activity of 

 functions unessential to life, is now no longer 

 required : It is therefore the intention of Nature 

 to diffuse the quantity appropriated to these func- 

 tions equally throughout the system ; but the at- 

 tainment of this object is occasionally opposed, or 



