Volume 1

Treatise on the venom of the viper; on the American poisons; and on the cherry laurel, and some other vegetable poisons. To which are annexed, observations on the primitive structure of the animal body; different experiments on the reproduction of the nerves; and a description of a new canal of the eye ... / Translated from the original French of Felix Fontana ... by Joseph Skinner.

  • Fontana, Felice, 1730-1805.
Date:
1787
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Treatise on the venom of the viper; on the American poisons; and on the cherry laurel, and some other vegetable poisons. To which are annexed, observations on the primitive structure of the animal body; different experiments on the reproduction of the nerves; and a description of a new canal of the eye ... / Translated from the original French of Felix Fontana ... by Joseph Skinner. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    425/454 (page 399)
    ) ON POISONS. 399 tViefis, that the nervous fluid afts agreeably to the laws of fluids in general. If the nervous fluid was different from fluids in general, if it had laws alto- gether different to theirs, or if it was analogous to electricity, my reafons would be no longer applica- ble to the prefent cafe. However this may be, it is certain that the mo- tion of a mufcle feparated from the animal, does_ in no way depend on the animal, or on the fenfitive principle that refides in it, and that the irritability in the fibres fubfifts from itfelf alone. The irrita- bility of the fibres is therefore diftinCl from the fen- fibility of the animal, and two things which appear fo different, and which feem to have been feparated by nature, ought no longer to be confounded. But if this fenfitive principle, which conftitutes the life of the animal, is different from the irritabi- lity of the fibres, why, in a part feparated from the animal, may there not fubfift an obfcure fenfation, an imperfect life, relative to the fize and to the na- ture of the part feparated from the animal, and to the nerves that are found in'thatpart ? In this fuppofition, there is no agreement, no harmony, betwixt the life of the entire animal, and the obfcure fenfation of the part that has been fepa- rated : but I do not fee why, in this cafe, the ir- ritability may not likewife depend on the fenfation of the part. The irritability would then depend on the partial fcnfibility, or would be the fame as the latter, that is to fay, it would depend on the fcnfibi- lity