201 



ble quantity of caloric; and it is observed that every thing which increases 

 the production of caloric, gives rise to a proportionate increase of the cu- 

 taneous perspiration and of the pulmonary exhalation, so that a constant 

 equilibrium being kept up between its production and escape, the animal 

 warmth always remains nearly the same*. 



To conclude, the extremities of the nerves of our organs of sensation, 

 are ail moistened by a fluid varying in quantity, and which maintains 

 them in a softened state, favourable to the exercise of their functions. It 

 was likewise necessary, that the membrane in which the sense of touch 

 resides should be habitually kept moist by a fluid that should penetrate it 

 throughout : this use of the insensible perspiration is not less important 

 than the preceding, on which physiologists have bestowed most atten- 

 tion. 



CHAPTER V. 



OF THE SECRETIONS. 



LXXXVIII. Of the animal fluids. The animal fluids were formerly 

 divided into recrementitious^ excrementitious, and excremento-recrementi- 

 tious ; this division, founded on the- uses to which the fluids are subser- 

 vient 5 is preferable to any that has since been adopted, and in which 

 they are ranked according to their nature. 



The first class remain in the body, and are employed in its autrition 

 and growth ; such as the chyle, the blood, the serosity which lubricates 

 the surface of the pleura, of the peritoneum, and of the other membranes 

 of the same kind. The second kind are ejected from our body, and can- 

 not remain long within it, without danger; such as the urine, the matter 

 of insensible perspiration and of sweat. Lastly, those of the third class 

 partake of the nature of the two preceding, and are, in part, rejected, 

 while another part is retained and employed in the support and growth 

 of the organ: this is the case with the saliva, the bile, the mucus of the 

 intestines, Sec. If one affected to be very minutely scrupulous, one 

 might consider all the animal fluids as recremento-excrernentitious. The 

 chyle and the blood, which are so very nutritious, contain an abundance 

 of heterogeneous and excrementitious parts ; the urine, which of all our 



* If transpiration be restrained or stopped, and if the causes productive of heat act 

 with intensity, it would appear that the temperature of the surface of the body rises 

 some degrees ; hence the reason that the heat is so distressing in those diseases which 

 are characterized by dimi?iished transpiration, and in which the dryness of the skin is 

 so remarkable, as erysipelas, erythema, &c. M. M. Berger and Delaroche have sup- 

 posed that they have seen, when the air of a room is saturated with humidity and ren- 

 dered very warm, that the human body exposed to this atmosphere acquires a higher 

 temperature than is natural to it, the cutaneous and pulmonary transpiration either 

 being altogether arrested or imperfectly performed. For farther observations on this 

 subject, see APPENDIX, Note Z. Copland. 



