Physiological Researches on Life and DeathBichat, Xavier
Science
Physiological Researches on Life and Death
Bichat, Xavier
Death (Biology); Life (Biology)
If we now observe that the organs of the animal life, which are
condemned to a necessary inaction, are the seat at the same time of
a very small portion only of vital power (the surplus of this being
thrown upon the organic life) it will be easy to perceive, that
almost the whole of the powers which are afterwards to be developed
upon the two systems in general, will be then concentrated upon
those which serve to nourish and compose the different parts of the
fœtus, and that in consequence the functions which concur to the
process of nutrition and growth, must at that age be the seat of an
extreme energy.
II. _Development of the organic life after birth._
Immediately after birth, the organic life of the child has a great
addition made to it; its extent is almost doubled, for not only
are many of the functions which did not before exist at such time
added, but those which existed previously are much enlarged. Now in
this remarkable revolution of things, a law directly the contrary
of that which presides over the animal life is observed; for the
organs of this life, whether they be newly brought into exercise,
or simply receive an increase of action, need no education; they
suddenly attain to a perfection, which those of the animal life do
not acquire, otherwise than by long habitude. A rapid glance upon
the development of this life, will be sufficient to convince us of
the truth of the above observation.
At the instant of birth, digestion and respiration, with a great
part of the exhalations and absorptions commence. Now after the
first inspirations and expirations; after the elaboration in the
stomach of the first milk, which is taken in by the infant, as soon
as the exhalants of the lungs and the skin have once rejected some
small portions of their respective fluids, the respiratory, the
digestive and exhalant organs, have as perfect an action as they
ever will have.
At the same time all the glands, which slept as it were, which
poured forth but a very small quantity of fluid, are awakened from
their torpor by the stimuli of the various substances which are
applied to the mouths of their excretory ducts. The passage of
the milk at the extremities of the stenonian and wartonian ducts,
of the chyme at the end of the choledochus and the pancreatic
duct, the contact of air with the orifice of the urethra, awaken
into action the salivary glands, the pancreas, the liver, and
the kidneys. The air in like manner upon the inner surface of
the trachea and the nostrils, and the aliments upon that of the
digestive passages, are the excitants which rouse these parts into
action.[50]
It is then also that begin the various excretions of the system:
now if we examine well the different organs which concur to the
above mentioned phenomena, we shall find that they require no sort
of education.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account