on the Influence of the Brain , &c. 333 
riments on the blood, under these circumstances, lead to any 
very satisfactory conclusions, respecting the specific heat of 
blood circulating in the vessels of the body ? The diluting 
the blood with large quantities of water, as proposed by Dr. 
Crawford, does not altogether remove the objection, for this 
only retards, it does not prevent coagulation, and some time 
must, at any rate, elapse, while the blood is flowing and the 
quantity is. being measured, during which the separation of its 
solid and fluid parts will have begun to take place. 
More might be said on this subject; but I feel anxious to 
avoid, as much as possible, controversial discussion. It is my 
wish not to advance opinions, but simply to state some facts, 
which I have met with in the course of my physiological in- 
vestigations. These facts, I am willing to hope, possess some 
value ; and they may perhaps lead to the developement of other 
facts of much greater importance. Physiology is yet in its in- 
fant state. It embraces a great number and variety of phe- 
nomena, and of these it is very difficult to obtain an accurate 
and satisfactory knowledge ; but it is not unreasonable to ex- 
pect, that by the successive labours of individuals, and the 
faithful register of their observations, it may at last be enabled 
to assume the form of a more perfect science. 
