First lines of physiology / by Albert von Haller ; translated from the third Latin edition ; to which is added, a translation of the index, composed for the Edinburgh edition, printed under the inspection of Dr. William Cullen.

  • Haller, Albrecht von, 1708-1777.
Date:
1803
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First lines of physiology / by Albert von Haller ; translated from the third Latin edition ; to which is added, a translation of the index, composed for the Edinburgh edition, printed under the inspection of Dr. William Cullen. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    gelatinous ferum of a dropfy was transfufed even into the cavernous bodies of the penis. xxii. The great importance of this cellular fubftance will be evident to all who confider, that from it alone proceeds the due firmnefs and lia- bility of all the arteries, nerves, and mufcular fibres, and confequently of all the flefli and vifcera formed of thefe : but even the figures of the parts, their juft length, cavities, curvatures, flexures, depend entirely on the cellular membrane, being in fome places of a laxcr, and in others of a denfer fabric : for when divided, every part is lengthened and collapfes. Of this fubftance, with veffels, nerves, mufcular. and tendinous fibres, (a great part of which are however formed of it,) all the vifcera, all the mufcles, glands, ligaments and cap- fules, are compofed; on it alone, and its different length, tenfion, quantity or proportion, the divcr- fity of our glands and vifcera depends ; and, laft- ]y, it certainly conflitutes by far the greateft part of the body itfelf, if indeed the whole be not formed of cellular filaments of this kind. xxin. It poffeffes a contractile power, different from irritability, which, though not demonflrable by experiments, difpofes the cellular fibre to fhort- en itfelf, though for the moft part flowly, after having been ftretched. This power, excited by cold, renders the lkin rigid ; raifes the hairs ; draws up the fcrotum ; and, after geftation, re- ftores the fkin of the abdomen, and the uterus, to their former fize. The fame force, by a gentle but continual contraction, promotes the fecretion of fat of the liquors of the fubcutaneous and oth- er glands,and of pus : in the veins and recepta- cles, it refills dilatation ; and, when that is taken off, it regains its former fhortnefs. In the fetus, this gentle force is among the principal caufes of the changes that happen to the body. XXIV,