An enquiry into certain principles of architectural physiology / by D.O. Edwards.

  • Edwards, David Owen, 1801-1878.
Date:
[1866]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into certain principles of architectural physiology / by D.O. Edwards. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    ^ ^ / ' ^-'>- AN ENQUIRY INTO CERTAIN PRINCIPLES OF ARCHITECTURAL PHYSIOLOGY, By D. 0. Edwards, M.D., M.K.C.P., F.R.C.B. Read at the Ordinary General Meeting of the Royal Institute of British Arehitects, March 26th, 1866. In addressing this learned Society, I cannot find a fitter apology for my intrusion into a province of science apart from my own,' than the declaration of Cicero, in one of his orations, that all the arts designed for the welfare of man, have a close relationship with each other. “ Omnes artes,” he says, “ quffi ad humanitatem pertinent habent quoddmn commune vinculum; et quasi cognatione quadam inter se continentur.” The contemplation of this general alliance between the various industries which, like so many different coloured threads, are interwoven in the great loom of social life, naturally yielded him the keen intellectual pleasure, associated with the apprehension of a philosophical truth, and evidently enticed him into speculations as to the affinity of the arts, as well as to the tendency of each to elevate or depress the moral dignity of the human being. Civilization had not then awakened to the perception of the modern ethical maxim, that all labour is worthy of respect; and fettered by the narrow prejudices of class, the great orator indulged in illiberal comments upon various inferior handicrafts, which he considered derogatory to the character of their professors. It is remarkable, however, that he selected architecture and medicine as worthy of special commendation, on account of the moral and intellectual excellence which they call forth. He brackets both arts together in their description, as “ Artibus quibus aut major prudentia inest, ant non mediocris utilitas quseritur.” I will not presume to waste the time of my present audience in further quoting the opinions of Cicero as to the comparative merits of the two professions, or in comments on his ample means of forming a correct parallel, but proceed at once to a consideration of what must evidently have been in his mind, the nature of that quoddam commune vinculum, that particular technical bond of union between medicine and architecture, represented in the common purpose contemplated in the physician’s prescription, and the architect’s constructive skill. There can be no doubt that the members of any profession would be sometimes enlightened if they could occasionally divest themselves of their habitual modes of thinking, and take a view of their proceedings from the stand-point of a neighbouring art. As the physician would be helpless without the aid of the architect, so the architect might derive useful hints from the experience of the physician. In the remarks which I now venture to make, I of course regard the functions of the architect from a medical point of view; but whilst assuming a freedom of discussion, necessary in the investigation of truth, I beg to disclaim any tone of dictation, and advance my statements and conclusions as so many questions to be answered by the fuller knowledge of my audience. The means employed by the two professions are widely different, but the end is the same, namely, to aid nature in preserving the natural standard of heat in the hody, which is the primary essential attribute of life. The infant, before birth, borrows its heat from the blood of its parent, it lives in a warm bath of 100® Fahr., but directly it comes in contact with the colder air the lungs are expanded, and a new function commences, that of supplying the balance of heat which is necessary to antagonize the refrigerating influence of the atmosphere; this task, as is well known, is accomplished in respiration by the absoiq)tion of oxygen, the exhalation of carbonic acid and the oxidation of the carbonaceous elements of the blood. The constant, never ceasing task of the breathing animal is, then, the generation of heat,