■(8*4) 
But here he declareth, that he feeth not, how that ExpIofion,by which 
the Muscles are fo fuddenly inflated and contracted, (houid proceed from 
■xht krterlopu Blond and the Nervous juyce. He efteems rather, that the 
nitrons particles proceeding from theinfpired Air, do by the Afflux of 
the Arterious bloud every where flow "between the fibres of theMufcles, 
and lodge therein-, and that the animal fyirits , made up of a very vola- 
tile fait, and notmuch differing from the diftilled fpint of blpud, highly 
•redifi'd, do, as often as they are f fent from the Nerves for motion, 
meet with the former nitrons and differing particles; by which mixture 
of a kind of Volatile Spirit cf blond , and a Satin liquor, united together, 
is caufed that fudden explofion , and confequently the inflation and con- 
traction of the Mufcles. To which Ebullition , he faith, may perhaps 
fomething aifo conduce the Bloud , forafmuch as its fulphureous particles , 
conjoyn'd with the Niter infpired , may render that juyce NitroJuL 
ipMreom , and yet more explofive. And thus he thinks the motion made 
in the heart, (amufculous fubflance) to be done no othcrwife, than 
that in other Mufcles. Whence he concludeth, that upon the fuppreffing 
of Refpiration , when that darting Niter, , fo requifite to all motion, 
as deficient, the Cardiaque Nerves convey their influx in vain, fo that 
the pulfation of the heart ceafing , and confequently the afflux of the 
Blood to the Brain^ Death muft needs follow ; but yet that the Animal 
-may live a while without j Refpiration , forafmuch as the Bloud con- 
tained in theveffels of the Lungs, and impregnated with Air enough, 
. may fuffice to maintain for fome few moments the morion of the lieart. 
And thus much of the firft Trad:, the other treating of the RicJ^tf 5 
examins in the firft. place, wherein Nutrition confifts, and finds, That 
the Nervous fujee performs not alone the whole office of that operation, 
•in regard that befrdes it, the Bloud dhfafed through the Arteries , hath no 
j fmall fhare in that work,feeing that the nervous liquor mixt with the bloud, 
xaufeth a certain effervefcence, whereby the matter, fit fornutrition, ispre- 
cipitated, and that for want of this nervous liquor,the Bloud in this diftem- 
,per of the Rickets, though it be laudable enough , yet being deftitute of 
its one ferment, is not able to excite Heat in the parts , nor to execute 
the office of Nutrition. So that the Rickets, in the opinion of this Au- 
thor, are a difeafe, caufed i>y an unequal diftribution of the Nervous 
juyce, from whofe either defed or fuperabundance , fome parts de- 
frauded of nourifhment, are emaciated, others, being furcharged, grow 
m ;o a : .^proportionate bignefs. Proceeding to a ill gne the Caufe of this 
irequalky in the diftriburion of the Aliment , lie finds it not in the in- 
£uxof the Brain, but in thz obftrudtion of the fpinal Marrow . whence 
it happens, thar,that high way of the pafligeof the fpirits being damm'd 
vp,the part?, to be fuftain'd andxheriflj'd by-ttet nutritious Juyce, muft: 
needs languidly and fall into an Atrophy aijdthe higheft Coniuni prion. 
Having 
