On the necessity for contracting cavities between the venous trunks and the ventricles of the heart : on the use of venous sinuses in the head : on the wonderful provision made for the transition from the foetal to the breathing state, on palpitation, on death and on life, with reflections on the treatment of animals.

  • Walker, John.
Date:
1799
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the necessity for contracting cavities between the venous trunks and the ventricles of the heart : on the use of venous sinuses in the head : on the wonderful provision made for the transition from the foetal to the breathing state, on palpitation, on death and on life, with reflections on the treatment of animals. 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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    unfufpe&ing brute to receive the effcClive mortal fliock of an eJrftrical battery, or to fall under the ftroke which fhould inffantly divide, or deftroy, the ftrufture of the brain or medulla oblongata, or remove the whole head, upon which they might feize the occafion of breaking o- pen the quivering trunk to fee what palled, and it would afford a gratification to me to know, that I fhould not have to bear the infirmities, nor to fuffer the pains incident to old age. In Ihort, fuch is the prefent lot of the' fenfitive part of the creation, that on man, who has the hope of immor- tality to confole him, and who has alfo, during the totter- ing fteps of his pilgrimage, the means of affording intellec- tual gratifications to his friends, of ftirring up the moft heavenly feelings of the foul, while he is himfclf cherifh- ed by their fympathies in declining life, — on man alone I can contemplate the marks of old age with gratulation. RefpeEl to the Jocial ajfedlions. But while man Bands fo eminently diftinguilhed, above all his fellow creatures, there feems alfo fome attention due to the affections and focial feelings of the brute. Un- der the window where 1 write this paper, a horfe Ihcws evident marks of anxiety on the difappearance of his com- rade horfe, who has walked off with his load. On the found of his returning, feet, he lifts up his head with plea- fure, and neighs his welcome, when he comes into view. Ought I to be difquieted at the yelping of the dog, left alone aboard a veffel in the haven ? He is wretched with- out company, and, on the return of the people, frilks a- bout with joy, and lets me continue my paper without in- terruption. All thefe emotions, however, and all other affe&ions fee.m feeble when compared with the lolicitudes and rap- tures of dams tending their young. Who, in confidering thefe things, could unreluClantly break in upon the felicity of the bird's n£ft ? Who could in any wife be willing to feethe the kid in the mother’s milk ? FINIS.