LECTURE V. 229 



as the axilla, which may be sometimes ob-* 

 served, when an abscess forms at the end of 

 one of the fingers ? How am I to account 

 for the distinct pulsation we often perceive 

 in the carotid, or abdominal aorta, unless 

 some vital activity be admitted to exist even 

 in the larger vessels ? We may indeed,. 

 in some instances, account for the phae- 

 nomena which we observe, by supposing 

 constriction to have occurred in the capil- 

 laries of the large pulsating trunk; but this 

 supposition appears to me very inadequate 

 to explain the whole of the phaenomena of 

 such occurrences. 



Our physiological theories should be ade- 

 quate to account for all the vital pheno- 

 mena, both in health and disorder, or they 

 never can be maintained as good theories. 



Mr. Hunter enquired if the area of ar- 

 teries increased as they receded from the 

 heart, and for this purpose examined the 

 trunk of the common carotid, which runs 

 to some distance without giving off any 

 branch of importance. He found it largest 



Q 3 



