320 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



position to circulate promoted. The circulation, 

 by degrees, extends itself to the head, extremi- 

 ties, and surface of the body, and it is evident that 

 recovery will be proportionate to the facility with 

 which the distribution to every other part of the 

 system is effected, as it tends to remove the con- 

 gested condition of the internal viscera and vessels. 

 If the head were placed much lower than the 

 trunk the blood would flow with still greater ease 

 from the chest to the brain ; but this change, in- 

 stead of relieving the powers of life, would pro- 

 bably destroy them, by preventing the return of 

 sensorial sensibility, indispensable to the recovery 

 of the individual. 



CCCLXVIII. In the operation of paracente- 

 sis abdominis, syncope very often takes place, 

 particularly if the water be evacuated copiously 

 and suddenly. It is supposed that syncope oc- 

 curs, because the internal vessels have lost their 

 accustomed pressure. Dr MASON GOOD observes, 

 when vessels have been pressed upon, as in drop- 

 sy of the abdomen, that they " suddenly acquire 

 a power of dilatation." There are several reasons 

 which induce me to dissent from this opinion. 



a. Vessels of the head, in Chronic Hydroce- 

 phalus, must be considerably more compressed 

 occasionally, than those of the abdomen in Asci- 

 tes, if either be compressed. The bones of the 

 skull do not so readily accommodate themselves 

 to the power from within, as the parietes of the 



