GENERAL VIEW OF THE FUNCTIONS. 21 



The organs of the vital or organic functions are in very few 

 instances double, or situated with their centres in the median line 

 and possessed of symmetrical halves ; witness the heart, stomach, 

 liver. There are, indeed, two kidneys, but they continually 

 differ in size, figure, and situation: the two lungs are very dis- 

 similar. 



Hence Bichat infers, that in the animal functions a harmony of 

 action in each organ, or in each half of the organ, is indispensable 

 to perfection, when both organs or sides act together ; and that 

 if such harmony do not occur, it is better for one organ or one 

 half to act alone. This certainly appears true of the eye, 

 and ear, and even of the brain. It certainly does not hold good 

 in the actions of the voluntary muscles, nor in the operations of 

 the brain or spinal marrow in willing those actions. From the 

 duplicity of the organs it also happens that one side may cease 

 to act without detriment to the function of the other ; while, in 

 the vital or organic class, no harmony of action is possible, and 

 the derangement of any one part of an organ generally affects 

 the whole of it, an obstruction in the colon disturbs the func- 

 tions of all the alimentary canal. 



The animal functions experience periodical intermissions 

 sleep. The organic or vital continue incessantly, suffering merely 

 remissions: the blood constantly circulates, the perspiratory 

 fluid is constantly secreted, the stomach has no sooner digested 

 one meal than we commit another to it, yet we shall hereafter 



c As the nerves of one perpendicular half of the body are connected with one 

 half of the brain or spinal marrow, it is not surprising that we often see a loss 

 of motion or of sense, or the reverse, viz. spasms or convulsions, or even an ex- 

 cess of sensibility, in one perpendicular half of the body. But we have examples 

 of ague affecting only one perpendicular half of the body (Ephemer. Nat. Curios. 

 and Memoires de Montpellier, 1 827) : of persons who sweated on one perpendicu- 

 lar half only, (Ephemer. Nat. Curios. Dr. Abercrombie on Diseases of the Brain 

 and Nerves (the line on the face was distinctly marked), p. 284. Dr. Andral, 

 Clinique, vol. i. p. 477.) : and of a child that became pale and emaciated in one 

 perpendicular half, while the other remained plump and healthy. (Dr. Falconer, 

 Memoirs of London Med. Soc. vol. ix. ) Still, as we have paralysis and convulsions 

 also in a horizontal half, so instances are on record of ague affecting a horizontal 

 half (Journal de Medecine, t. xxiv. p. 60. January, 1766); and of one horizontal 

 half sweating (Andral, #>.) : and as we have also examples of paralysis and 

 convulsions affecting a limb only, so ague is said sometimes to have seized but a 

 single limb. (Dr. Macculloch, on Marsh Fever and Malaria.) 



c 3 



