they escape, fibrillate; whereas, the further the corpuscle is, or the greater the number of stages of its removal from the circulation, the larger it is, the more it is filled with molecules, and the less perfectly do the fluid contents fibrillate. Now, if it be admitted, that the fibrillating liquor sanguinis is changed into mucus in the interior of living cells, then there can be no difficulty in admitting that similar living cells, by a different mode of elaboration, may form not only sundry kinds of fibrous or mucous tissue, but the tears, saliva, milk, or bile.

His subsequent investigations have only tended to confirm the conclusions drawn by the author from his previous "Researches," viz. that the colourless corpuscles are very highly organized cells, within which the special tissues, and the secretions are elaborated; and it appears that the renovation of these tissues and secretions from the blood does not take place by the cells discharging their contents into the general mass of the circulating current, to be separated therefrom by some peculiar transcendental, and purely hypothetical selective process of exudation, through a structureless and transparent tissue, but, by being themselves attached to, incorporated with, and performing their special function in the structure.

The author is satisfied, from the facts upon which the above conclusions are founded, that the progress of the colourless blood-cells in administering to the maintenance of the living body is not back again into red corpuscles, but onward into the higher forms of organised fibrous tissue and epithelium. He conceives also that the blood-cells have their origin in the chyle, and that every step, by which they multiply or increase in numbers, is progressive, carrying them higher in the scale of organization, until, at length, they acquire colour by passing through the capillaries of the lungs: they then again become colourless by further elaboration or nutritive changes, and in this condition are prepared to enter upon what may appropriately be termed a higher and more special state of existence, i. e. into the composition of the tissue. If, then, the colourless bloodcorpuscles be termed "parent cells," they must be considered as pregnant with the embryo materials of the tissues and secretions, and not with "young bloodcells." According to this view of the entire dependence of secretion upon the nutritive process, neither milk, mucus, nor the bile, are derived from the blood as such; on the contrary, they are each elaborated in the interior of cells, which were previously colourless blood-cells, the change from a blood to an epithelial cell being the sum of the process of secretion; and milk, mucus and bile, are the visible fluid results of the final dissolution of the cells. Hence, then, a secretion is the result of the last stage of the process of nutrition, and hence, also, it is by the special vital activity of individual cells, and of all the visible particles composing their structure, that the secretions are produced.

SECT. 2.--The author considers that the hitherto-received doctrine, viz. that the capillary blood-vessels have permanent tubular coats, is totally irreconcileable with the results of recent observations regarding the function and process of nutrition. He gives the following explanation and theory of the process of nutrition:

Nutrition may be normal or abnormal. In normal nutrition the colourless blood-corpuscles adhere to the tissue forming the boundary of the bloodchannels; they contribute to form this tissue, i. e. the parietes of the capillaries, and are afterwards evolved or thrown off from the nearest free surface-a follicle, crypt, or duct, constituting epithelial cells; the mucus, or the secretion given out by the follicles or flowing through the ducts, being the result of the final dissolution of the cells and tissues. In abnormal nutrition the colourless bloodcorpuscles adhere to the parietes of the capillaries in much greater abundance; they pass out among the fibres of the tissue, which is now much less fibrous and

coherent, and are subsequently thrown off from the nearest free surface-a pyogenic surface, as lymph, pus, exudation, or imperfect epithelial cells.

According to this account, the fibrous walls of the capillary vessels are formed by the fibrillation of the liquor sanguinis contained in the interior of the colour. less blood-corpuscles, some of the corpuscles being employed or expended in forming the fibrous tissue, others passing through it in the interstices of the fibres for further elaboration into epithelium. If the corpuscles congregate in unusual numbers, and be hurried through the stages of their growth by an abnormal nutrition, they come under observation as lymph, pus, or exudation cells; the various appearances presented by these objects, and the quality of their contents, being referrible to the period of their growth, to the special function of the tissue, and to the chemical action of the fluids with which they are associated. The author sets about testing the truth of this, his theory of nutrition, by referring to the phenomena of some well-marked disease. He takes for example scarlet fever: this disease has a specific character arising from a peculiar poison affecting the blood-corpuscles; the function of nutrition becomes more or less disturbed, the secretions are diminished or disordered, and the colourless bloodcells consequently accumulated in the circulating fluid. When the disease is mild, these cells are determined to the epithelial surfaces of the skin, in order to be eliminated from the body. In the severer cases they accumulate in the vessels of some of the internal epithelial surfaces, causing muco-purulent discharges, or the formation of abscess, so that there may be scarlet fever without cutaneous redness. If there has been no exfoliation of the skin, nor critical discharge, the abnormal corpuscles either have not been at all, or only imperfectly eliminated. Under such circumstances, the patient may appear for a little time to be getting well; this is deceptive, as the diseased corpuscles are still in the circulation, insidiously perhaps, by an abnormal nutrition, locating themselves in some glandular structure, or forming tubercles on the lungs-if not so, their presence will be speedily proclaimed by symptoms of dropsy, or some acute inflammatory or abnormal nutrition in the kidneys, the phenomena of which attest the truth of the theory; for the disintegrated tissues and the red corpuscles of the blood are voided in the urine.

These views explain why it so often happens that the mildest cases are so frequently followed with graver lesions after-it also points out the necessity of attending to the exfoliation of the cuticle or of watching some other critical discharge before dismissing the case as one which has terminated satisfactorily. To test the theory still further: the author asks, what are the remedial measures it suggests, where the natural cure—the elimination of the abnormal corpuscles— has been interrupted or impeded?

1st. Bleeding, in order to diminish the total amount of the colourless bloodcorpuscles; and by so doing, to recall into the current of the circulation, some of those which have become stationary, oppressing and loading the tissues.

2. A more or less active purgation or accelerated nutrition upon all the available epithelial surfaces, so that by removing the effete epithelium, a stimulus may be given for the more rapid growth of the new. Thus then the theory of nutrition advanced by Mr. Addison suggests the employment of those remedial measures which enlightened medical experience has sanctioned as frequently essential to the cure of the disease. Nay, it even does more; it indicates two very different modes of withdrawing blood-one by lancet, leeches, &c. where both the red and colourless corpuscles are discharged; the other, by establishing an accelerated nutrition—an eruption on the skin, a blister, an issue, or seton, where the colourless corpuscles only are selected and thrown off.

The 3rd Section of this essay treats of the Function of Structure; the author's object in it, is to point out those analogies and facts most calculated to give an insight into the means whereby the qualities or properties of the living structure

are sustained by a succession of altering cells. The general tenor of the argument, several of the illustrations, and some of the conclusions arrived at, are identical with those employed by Liebig in his Organic Chemistry. There is, however, this difference. Liebig proceeds on the supposition that the globules of the blood take no share in the process of nutrition, whilst our author assumes that the globules of the blood are the sole agents of nutrition. In this section the author assumes, as a leading and essential principle, "the inherent activity of matter"-this he proves from authority; first referring to Sir J. Herschel, who says that the inherent activity of matter is proved not only by the production of motion, by mutual attractions and repulsions of distant or contiguous masses, but by the changes and apparent transformations, which different substances undergo in their sensible qualities.*

Bacon says, that "all bodies whatsoever, though they have no sense, yet they have perception." As the ultimate elements of all living bodies are of the same kind as those most energetic in inanimate and inorganic bodies, so they have the same "inherent activity ;" and, being in a constant and ceaseless state of change, it follows (unless the contrary be proved) that a certain amount of power or force must be the result. Also, as the secreting and all the nutritive organs of the body are structural arrangements, in which changes are going on, they can scarcely be supposed limited in their office merely to the production of what is termed a secretion; on the contrary, there being a large amount of "perception," or "susceptibility" and power, quite distinct from consciousness and volition, to account for, it is much more probable that their function is a dynamic function, and that the secretions flowing from them are the visible remains of the materials which have ministered to the function. After considering the will as another of the sources of motions in living bodies, of those motions which are called voluntary, he lays down this rule: that all the visible motions and affections of the body distinct from the will, may generally be modified or removed by altering, increasing, or diminishing the nutritive changes of the structure: and it may be affirmed generally that the will, having a large control over the materials received within the body, and therefore over the nutritive changes, is responsible for the origin of many bodily diseases. The metaphysical nature of the disquisitions constituting this section obliges us to discontinue further notice of it.

* Preliminary Discourse, p. 297; also pp. 59.

Spirit of the Foreign Periodicals.

MISCELLANEOUS REMARKS ON HEMATOLOGY.

So much attention is paid in the present day to the study of the Changes of the Blood in different diseases, and so intimately acquainted is this study with some of the most important topics of Therapeutic Medicine, that we offer no apology for again inviting the attention of our readers to a subject that has been pretty amply discussed in the last, and one or two of the preceding numbers of this Journal. There is at present going on, within the economy of the body medical, so curious a process of change, and work of transition from the doctrines of an exclusive Solidism to those of a mixed and modified Humorism, that it becomes most necessary to watch every step in its development and progress, ready to avail ourselves of every well-established discovery, yet guarding our minds against an indiscriminate adoption of every new announcement. In this point of view, the following observations may be read with some profit as well as interest.

The analysis of the Blood of various animals, affected with different forms of inflammatory disease, has invariably exhibited an increase in the normal proportion of its Fibrine. In the Cachexia aquosa-known usually by the name of the rot-in sheep, the blood is found to be very seriously altered. The proportion of the Fibrine is increased, while that of the Globules, and also of the Albumen in the serum, is very notably diminished below the standard of health. The watery portion or serosity of the latter constituent is much greater than in health; in some cases it amounts to as much as 930 parts in 1000 of the blood. The Cachexia aquosa in sheep and the disease of Albuminuria in the human subject are the two pathological conditions, in which the proportion of the Albumen in the serum is found to be most remarkably diminished. It is curious however that there is none of this element discoverable in the urine of the animal, when affected with the former malady. But thousands of parasitic Entozoa are usually found dispersed through the substance of the liver and lungs. Moreover, the existence of this malady, even in a high degree, does not exclude the occasional development of well-marked inflammatory action. Under such circumstances, the proportion of the red Globules in the blood continues to be very low; but that of the Fibrine becomes very sensibly augmented, in spite of the general feebleness of the system, and the extreme impoverishment of the blood. It would seem therefore that the increase in the proportion of the Fibrine is always associated with the development of acute diseases in constitutions that are much enfeebled, although the proportion of the red Globules is much lowered beyond the normal standard at the time. It is important to attend to these circumstances, as they serve to point out the general character and tendencies of the Humoral Doctrine of the present day. It is scarcely necessary to say here, that we are indebted for much of our recently-acquired knowledge to the admirable researches of MM. Andral, Gavarret and Delafond. To M. Magendie also we owe not a little. His experiments-which he still pursues with most praiseworthy zeal-have led him to conclusions, that forcibly remind us, in many respects, of the doctrines of the mechanical physicians of the 17th century. Their principles in reference to the mechanism of the Phlegmasiæ are nearly or exactly the same; for, in truth, the theories of the modern pathologist and of his ancient predecessors alike maintain that the process of Inflammation is induced by the red globules becoming unable to traverse the capillary vessels, and by an arrest of the capillary circulation in the parts affected. N

No. LXXXI.

The characteristic feature of the old Humoral Doctrine is the unqualified assertion, as the basis of all pathological reasoning, of the vitality not of the blood only, but of all the other fluids of the body. It assumed, as a principle not to be controverted, that they (the fluids) were animated with the same sort of living activity as the solids, and therefore that they, like them, were impressionable from a variety of agencies, both in health and in disease. According to this view of the subject, the Fluids, in virtue of this vital activity, participated in the regular movements of the functions, and might become primarily the subject of their perturbations, as well as the direct agent of the sanative efforts of the system to restore the equilibrium of health. Little engaged with the physical properties of the animal fluids, the physicians of those days paid not much attention to any thing but to their general and external aspect, and almost quite neglected to examine their intimate or elemental composition. Now modern Humorism entirely reverses this mode of procedure. It does not profess to notice or take any account of the inherent activity of the animal fluids; but it confines itself to the task of examining with the most scrupulous minuteness all their physical and chemical properties. We observe the same sort of difference in point of doctrine between the old and modern schools, that has often been remarked in reference to the medical tendencies of the two epochs in question. In the former, the great aim of the physician was to watch the general phenomena of the system, and the more conspicuous manifestations of diffused vitality; while, in the latter, he directs his attention almost exclusively to the profound study of individual facts and special phenomena, and scarcely notices the more general characters of disease. The ancient doctrine was based, as we have already said, exclusively on considerations of the vital activity of the fluids; whereas, the modern one is entirely occupied with studying the material structure of the humours, their forms, and their organic constitution. Without distinctly recognising the independent and proper vitality of the fluids, it is however always to be borne in mind that, as long as they remain within the living body, they possess specific properties or qualities, which cease to exist almost immediately when withdrawn from the agency of the solids, with which they are normally in

contact.

If the Fluids of the body possess functions distinct from their physical and chemical properties, we are nevertheless not to deny that there is a bond of union between the functions in question and these properties. Every one knows that the latter are continually undergoing, from a variety of circumstances, numerous modifications which have almost invariably a more or less distinct relation with the conditions of health and disease. For example, the fluids do not exhibit the same characters in respect either of colour, or of density, or of the proportion of their constituent parts, in individuals of different ages, temperaments, sex and so forth; and even the same individual, without becoming positively out of health, is liable to experience vicissitudes of this nature, corresponding with the incessant fluctuations of regimen and the general mode of life. The state of disease very prominently displays the intimate relations that exist between the general characters of the fluids and their peculiar characters as living matter. Who does not well know the density and deep colour of the blood in inflammatory diseases, so very different from what is observed in cachectic and dropsical maladies?-who has not seen its general melting down, so to speak, or sort of aqueous solution, which frequently accompanies the presence of organic lesions, like Cancer, Scrofula, &c.? and surely no one can require to be reminded of the humoral changes that occur in Scurvy, mercurial intoxication, or purulent infection. It cannot therefore be reasonably denied that there is a most close and necessary correspondence between the normal or pathological impressions of the fluids, and the modification of their composition, or their physical changes.