CORRESPONDENCE OF THE FUNCTIONS. 236 



their mutual and necessary influence, which requires 

 between them a certain correspondence of condition and 

 harmony of action. The condition of one function will 

 determine to a certain extent the condition ol all the rest, 

 because each requires the aid of all the rest in the per- 

 formance of its destined office. 



Emily. We cannot then change the condition of the 

 digestive organs, without making correspondent altera- 

 tions in all the other organs. 1 see now very clearly 

 that organization will not admit of that immense variety 

 of forms, of which it at first sight seemed capable. 



J) r . B. Respiration, for instance, necessarily re- 

 quires the circulation of the blood, and this must not be 

 too quick nor too slow, but in direct accordance with the 

 condition of the respiratory organs. The circulation is 

 maintained by the action of the heart and blood-vessels 



Emily. And these require the aid of the nervous 

 power which is the cause of their motions, and the ner- 

 vous system depends for its activity on the circulation 

 and respiration. I do not see but this influence revolves 

 in a circle it is impossible to find a beginning or end. 



Dr. B.l need not mention to you how necessary 

 how indispensable in fact is this correspondence and 

 harmony of condition to the existence of a living being, 

 and how completely any general result would be frustra- 

 ted, by an arbitrary and heterogeneous assemblage t)f 

 functions. 



Emily. It requires truly, no uncommon penetration 

 to see how useless would be the power of sensibility for 

 instance, were it not aided constantly by the muscular 

 power. What would be the advantage of the sense of 

 touch, could we not turn our hands towards palpable 

 objects ? of seeing, if we could not turn the head or eyes 

 in every direction ? Of what avail would be a great 

 degree of activity in the respiratory organs, if the circu- 

 lation were feeble ? of strong and active powers of di- 

 gestion, if the possessor were unprovided with means for 

 taking its proper food ? What would be the utility of 



