AND ANIMAL LIFE. 319 



CCCLXVI. It is a very wise provision of Na- 

 ture that such a state of things exists. If the 

 heart and lungs had less blood at the time of the 

 paroxysm, death would inevitably be the conse- 

 quence. Suppose it to be at rest, from great loss 

 of blood, agreeably to the general opinion,* can 

 we conceive the possibility of its revival ? Its on- 

 ly stimulus is the blood; it has ceased to act be- 

 cause it was destitute of this principle : then, it 

 is obvious, that it has no other source to supply 

 its necessities, and therefore it must continue in 

 this state of repose. But, suppose it to have 

 been oppressed by a superabundance, in accord- 

 ance with the principles proposed, and the diffi- 

 culties vanish. Respiration being suspended, a 

 further accumulation of blood is prevented. The 

 muscular fibres of the heart are in contact with 

 the blood, which more or less stimulates them to 

 contract ; and how trifling soever this contraction 

 may be, it is gradually overcoming the load by 

 which it is oppressed, and the organ is not sup- 

 plied with a fresh burden, as respiration is inac- 

 tive, on which the moving powers of the sangui- 

 ferous system depend. 



CCCLXVII. The position in which a patient 

 soonest revives is that which is best adapted to 

 relieve the lungs and heart. The individual is 

 recommended to be placed upon an inclined 

 plane, with the head a little higher than the 

 trunk. In this way, the blood, however slight 

 the impulse which propels it, has its natural dis- 



