The natural arrangement and relations of the family of flycatchers, or muscicapidae / Illustrated by thirty-three coloured plates, with portrait and memoir of Baron Haller.

  • Swainson, William, 1789-1855.
Date:
1838
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The natural arrangement and relations of the family of flycatchers, or muscicapidae / Illustrated by thirty-three coloured plates, with portrait and memoir of Baron Haller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    40/396 (page 30)
    of motion. Comparative anatomy likeivise infonns us that this membrane is simply a true cover for the brain, for in some animals, as in the tortoise, it is found of a cartilaginous consistence.” There were other points of controversy in which Haller found himself early engaged. One of the most impoi-tant of these regarded the respiration in man and the mammalia, and especially the instru- mentality by Avhich this rttal function is effected. M. Hamberger, an eminent professor at Jena, had in 1727 published an account of the mechanism of respi- ration. According to his vieiv, which was in unison wnth the prevailing and established notions, there was a permanent collection of air within the chest, between the ribs and lungs, as occurs in birds; and this air exerted an influence in compressing the lungs, which compression was, moreover, assisted by the action of the internal intercostal muscles. These opinions had, about the same time, been advocated also by M. Bayle of Toulouse. In re- ference to hem, we shall allow Haller to speak for himself:—“ The commentaries which in 1739 I commenced to give upon the Institutes of my illustrious master Boerhaave, led me to the subject of the mechanism of respiration, the thoracic air, and the use of the intercostal muscles. I could not agree Avith the views of M. Hamberger, Aidth Avhom I was on terms of intimacy. Accordingly, I spoke of him Avith commendation, and endeavoured to treat liira Avith politeness Avhile conunenting on his hypothesis; I cherished every feeling of delicacy