374* THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



distributed to it, may be considered as approach- 

 ing to inorganic matter, and the effects which it 

 exhibits approximate in character to those ob- 

 served in substances altogether destitute of life 

 when subjected to the same circumstances. 



CCCCXLVIII. It is not unusual to observe 

 good, and almost immediate effects, to succeed 

 the amputation of a limb. Paleness, emaciation, 

 debility, and irregularity of the various organic 

 functions, are removed or lessened by such an 

 operation, and these beneficial results are prin- 

 cipally to be attributed to two causes, viz. relief 

 from mental perturbation, and a more copious sup- 

 ply of blood to the remaining parts of the system. 

 On the first point it is unnecessary to insist, as 

 the influence of the mind on the corporeal func- 

 tions is too well known to require further com- 

 ment. Previous to the amputation of a limb, the 

 chief artery or arteries are compressed, which cir- 

 cumstance prevents the ordinary distribution of the 

 vital fluid to the parts which are to be removed, 

 so that the amputated extremity contains much 

 less blood than is possessed by that which is 

 sound : it is therefore evident that the system has 

 received an increase ; and this quantity, although 

 small, may be considered in the light of a natu- 

 ral transfusion, and tends, like that which is oc- 

 casionally employed in cases of great loss of 

 blood, to revive the sinking powers of life. 



