On the principle of vitality : a discourse delivered in the First Church in Boston, Tuesday, June 8th, 1790 ; before the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts / by B. Waterhouse, M.D. ; professor of the theory and practice of physic, and lecturer on natural history in the University of Cambridge.

  • Waterhouse, Benjamin, 1754-1846.
Date:
1790
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the principle of vitality : a discourse delivered in the First Church in Boston, Tuesday, June 8th, 1790 ; before the Humane Society of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts / by B. Waterhouse, M.D. ; professor of the theory and practice of physic, and lecturer on natural history in the University of Cambridge. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    fhall I defcant on the beneficial influence of thole numerous humane afTbciations, which mark and dignify the age in which we live. Suffice it to fay, that the fuccefs attending the Socie- ties eftablifhed for reftoring drowned perfons at s/m/lerdam, Hamburgh, London, Tadua, Vienna, 'Vans and elfewhere, in- duced fome refpecfcable characters to form one in Bolton. But they have gone beyond the European Societies, and have extended their plan not only to the reftoration of Jife, when apparently loft, but to the prefervation oi it when in imminent danger. It is fcarcely neceiTary to fay that the plan of this Society is totally void of all private interelred views. None of its members receive any other recompence than the fublime jo/ of doing good. I fhall avoid fpeaking of any particular mode of treating perfons apparently dead, and (hall confine myfelf to the great principle of Vitality, Anim ation, or Lif e. I fee] the difficulty of doing jufrice to fo copious a fubjecl in the fhort fpace allotted to a difcourfe. The fubjecl of animation is not merely curious, but leads to ufefulnefs. It has arretted the attention of Fhilofophers in almoft every age .of the world. Some of the antients reafoned thus on it, matter of itfelf cannot move, yet it is evident all things