An elementary compendium of physiology : for the use of students / by F. Magendie ; translated from the French, with copious notes and illustrations, by E. Milligan.

  • Magendie, François, 1783-1855. Précis élémentaire de physiologie. English
Date:
MDCCCXXXI. [1831]
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An elementary compendium of physiology : for the use of students / by F. Magendie ; translated from the French, with copious notes and illustrations, by E. Milligan. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by King’s College London. The original may be consulted at King’s College London.

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    seems sufficiently natural. Indeed, physiology recognises no insulated function ; all are subject, more or less, to the influence of others ; and it may be fairly questioned, whether their history would not be much bet- ter delivered in the independent form, where the writer freely supposes all the previous functions known, than under the trammels of any ar- rangement whatever, since it is common to them aU to assume that part only of the science to be known which has preceded. Method does, in- deed, prevent repetition to a speaking teacher, whose time is limited ; but to a writer, professing to convey the fulness of knowledge to his reader, it imposes the impediment just stated, of which the present is an instance. a, P. 229. The above case of H. R ss proves clearly that the saliva flows in consequence of a sympathy subsisting between the glands which secrete it, and the stomach. (See p. 560.) Our author must surely be mistaken in his quotation of animal matter at p. 232. Pepys makes the cartilage 20 per cent., and in this he coin- cides with Mr Hatchet, Phil. Trans. 1799, p. 328. A tooth macerated in acid till nothing more is given out, still retains its original size ;— doubtless a cartUage of this bulk must have a more considerable weight than that assigned it in the text. a, P. 235. The saliva, from the mucus it contains, absorbs oxygen from the atmosphere ; but the air here alluded to is held imprisoned in the bubbles formed in the saliva by the motion of the tongue and cheeks, the viscidity of which fluid prevents their thin walls from collapsmg. This is the foam, or froth, seen in the mouth of irritated animals or men : also in epilepsy, apoplexy, loud babbling speakers, or where the tongue is too large for the mouth. In idiots, the saliva flows out of the mouth, but it is seldom spumous, except when they are excited. The mere champing of the bit forms it in the horse. Note to 258. ]M. Adelon, Phys. de VHomme, vol. ii. gives some ex- periments contrary to those here cited, respecting the division of portions of the brain ; but our author seems to be in the right. a, P. 224, 3C1. See some valuable observations on this subject, in the physiology of M. Adelon. a, P. 321 and 361. To the arguments bearing on lymphatic absorp- tion, here delivered, a few others may be added. In doing this, we shall not deviate from the laudable brevity of our text. It must, however, be premised, that all parties are agreed on two points : first, that the cutis vera enjoys a very high absorbent power : secondly, that the internal surface of the lungs, whether covered or not with a thin cuticle (Bicli. Anal. Gen. ii. 764.), possesses the same faculty in an eminent degree. It follows from these two principles, that, in order to ascertain the ab- sorption of a substance brought in contact with the cuticle, it must be determined whether, instead of being drawn in through the cuticle, it may not in reality have been inhaled by the absorbing vessels of the pul- monary surface, or by those of the true skin. Should it have had an oppor-