Physiological Researches on Life and Death — John Shaqi
Physiological Researches on Life and DeathBichat, Xavier
Science
Physiological Researches on Life and Death
Bichat, Xavier
Death (Biology); Life (Biology)
But it is to be remarked, that in the internal organs, the
sentiment produced by the affection of a part is always an
unfaithful index of the seat and extent of such affection. For
example, hunger must undoubtedly affect the whole of the stomach,
but the sensation of hunger is transmitted to us only by the
cardia. A large inflamed surface in the pleura for the most part
gives rise to a pain, which is felt only in a point. How often does
it happen that in the head or the abdomen a pain which is referred
but to a very limited space coincides with a largely disseminated
affection, with an affection possessing even a different seat
from that which is presumed. We should never consider the place
to which we refer the sentiment as a sure index of that which the
affection occupies, but only as a sign that it exists either there
or thereabouts.
From all this it follows, that to form a judgment of the organ,
to which such or such a passion relates, we ought to recur to the
effect produced in the functions of the organ by the influence of
the passion, and not to the feelings of the patient. In setting out
from this principle it will be easy to see, that it is sometimes
the stomach and alimentary canal, sometimes the sanguiferous
system, sometimes the viscera belonging to the secretions which
experience a change.
I shall not repeat the proofs of this assertion, but supposing it
to be demonstrated, I shall assert that there does not exist for
the passions as there does for the sensations a fixed and constant
centre; that on the contrary the liver, the lungs, the spleen, the
stomach, and the heart, are turn by turn affected, and at such time
form that epigastric centre so celebrated in modern works; and if
in general we refer to this region the sensible impression of all
our affections, the reason is that all the important viscera of
the organic life, are there concentrated. In fact, if nature had
separated these viscera, had the liver for instance been placed
in the pelvis, and the stomach in the neck, the heart and spleen
remaining as they now are seated, in such case the epigastric focus
would disappear, and the local sentiment of our passions vary
according to the part affected.
In determining the facial angle, Camper has thrown much light upon
the proportion of intelligence enjoyed by the several classes of
animals. It appears that not only the functions of the brain, but
that all those of the animal life which are centred there, have
this angle for the measure of their perfection.
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