An enquiry into the natural history, cehmical properties, and medical virtues, of the rock oil, or green mineral naphtha, of Barbados : particularising the successful experiments ... observations on digestion ... / by C.H. Wilkinson.

  • Wilkinson, C. H. (Charles Henry)
Date:
1830
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the natural history, cehmical properties, and medical virtues, of the rock oil, or green mineral naphtha, of Barbados : particularising the successful experiments ... observations on digestion ... / by C.H. Wilkinson. 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.

    67/90 (page 55)
    undergoes. By the colouring portion of blood, all new parts are formed; the arterial system never permits the red particles to enter again into the veins, unless in cases of disease. Thus the circulation is no way general, and the colourless part of the blood can only be said to undergo a regular circulating course.* I believe it is generally admitted that the arteries ter- minate in four different ways, the most common of which are by branches so very tenuous and minute as not to admit the red blood, and which are generally termed seriferous vessels, which ultimately unite with the origin of veins; the second mode into cells; the third on the surface where the exhalants are formed; and fourth, into the excretory ducts of the glands. I believe that no anatomical proof can be brought of the return of the coloured part of blood by the veins; and it would be contrary to the simplicity nature adopts, to have it again deteriorated and again obliged to undergo a pulmonary change. When a solution of continuity takes place from either a wound or ulcer, for its restoration, pus is formed, and which, on examination, has the same formed globular particles as observed in blood; this microscopic test may be advan- * In the Elements of Galvanism, I published in 1801, I believe I was the first who endeavoured to prove, by a series of experiments, the incorrectness of the theory advanced by Dr. Crawford relative to animal heat. I therein attributed the regulating power as to animal heat, to the energies of life, and which opinion lias been strongly corroborated by the subsequent experiments of Mr. Brodie.— It had frequently been observed by Volta, Reid, and myself, that air, as soon as it is expired, its quantity of electricity is always found to be diminished, and further remarking the great similarity in structure between the vesicular formation of the Jungs, and the cells in the electric organs of the torpedo, I concluded that the function of respiration is a galvanic action, by which is unfolded that principle which, by stimulating the heart, becomes diffused through the whole frame, and proves the source of general energy. What changes in our sensation do we ex- perience as this principle varies, languid and low, when the atmosphere is feebly charged with electricity, so also on the contrary we may account for the cordial exhilaration we feel when the barometer is high and the air consequently charged with this principle. «