Part 6

As, however, no general theory of physiology exists, it becomes necessary to inquire what systematic arrangement can be given to its facts, as strictly founded on those of anatomy, in order to obtain one. And I know none so unexceptionable as that arrangement which I have already publicly delivered, nor any general theory so rational as the one which results from it.

I shall now, therefore, restate these arrangements, and then try their applicability to the medical art.

* * * * *

Anatomy I divide into three parts, namely, that which considers the mechanical or loco-motive organs, that which considers the vital organs, and that which considers the intellectual organs.

Under the mechanical or loco-motive organs, I class, first, the bones which support the rest of the animal structure; second, the ligaments which unite them; and, third, the muscles which move them.

Under the vital organs, I class, first, the organs of digestion, the absorbent surfaces, and the vessels which absorb from these surfaces; second, the heart, lungs and blood-vessels which derive their contents (the blood) from the absorbed lymph; and, third, the organs of secretion which separate various matters from the blood.

Under the intellectual organs, I class, first, the organs of sense, where impressions take place; second, the brain or organ of judgment, where these excite ideas; and, third, the nerves, where volition results from the last.

This is a natural arrangement of the anatomy of animals, and its peculiar simplicity is illustrated by its involving, in application, that of minerals and vegetables, and by its being capable of instant adaption to physiological science.

In order to arrange animal physiology, it is only necessary to substitute the term “functions” for “organs;” and that science will likewise involve, in application, the physiology of mineral and vegetable bodies, and be, in its turn, capable of instant adaption to medical science.

Thus, the functions also are divided into mechanical, vital and intellectual.

The mechanical functions are subdivided into that of support, that of connection and that of loco-motion.

The vital functions are divided into that of absorption, that of circulation and that of secretion.

The intellectual functions are divided into that of sensation, that of mental operation and that of volition.

In order to arrange medical science, for the term “healthy functions,” the subject of physiology, it is only necessary to substitute the term, “diseased functions.”

The classes of disease are, therefore, like those of anatomy and physiology, three, namely, diseases of the mechanical or loco-motive functions, diseases of the vital functions, and diseases of the intellectual functions.

The orders of the first class, as affecting the functions of the bones, the ligaments and the muscles, are three, viz. diseases of support, diseases of connection, and diseases of loco-motion.

Those of the second class, as affecting the functions of the absorbent, circulating and secreting vessels, are likewise three, viz. diseases of absorption, diseases of circulation and diseases of secretion.

Those of the third class, as affecting the functions of the organs of sense, of the brain and of the nerves, are also three, viz. diseases of impression, diseases of judgment and diseases of volition.

The genera, under each order, consist of diminished, irregular and increased function.

This arrangement of disease likewise involves in application, that of minerals (if we choose to maintain the analogy and to give that term to mere injury of structure) and of vegetables, as well as animals. The first have what may be termed diseases of mechanical structure; the second have diseases of mechanical and vital functions; whilst the third have diseases of mechanical, vital and intellectual functions; corresponding with the observation that animals exist, vegetables exist and live, and animals exist, live and think.

Precisely in the same way, would I class the articles of the materia medica; first, as operating upon the mechanical, vital or intellectual organs, and then as either increasing, rendering irregular, or diminishing their action.

In this natural arrangement, I must again remark, that all its parts correctly correspond and beautifully flow from each other; while anatomy is the basis of physiology, physiology, in its turn, is the basis of medicine; the classification of one is applicable to the rest, and all of them at once involve mineral, vegetable and animal nature.

Such arrangement, as it lays the foundation of a new system of each, will, I trust, soon shed some light over anatomical, over physiological, and particularly over the dark paths of medical science; but it must be remembered, that this exhibits merely a sketch of the application of my general arrangement to medical science, and that sketch necessarily brief and deprived of every illustration. Yet, even after this sketch, I think I may add, in the words of Lord Bacon, that “the harmony of a science, supporting each part the other, is and ought to be the true and brief confutation and suppression of all the smaller sorts of objections.”

I shall now, however, further explain the principles upon which the natural system is constructed.

* * * * *

The correctness of this arrangement, as strictly founded on physiology, is confirmed by the following observations.

Disease is change of the healthy state and of the healthy action of parts. It is change of the state as well as of the action of parts, because action depends on state, life itself on organization, and it is only by affecting this state—the structure of the objects acting, that change of action can be produced. In fracture, as far as the bone is concerned, the action peculiar to it—loco-motion is affected; as the blood-vessels are ruptured, their action is affected; as the nerves are injured, their peculiar action is also affected.

Thus each has its peculiar action, and the action of each is affected through the medium of its structure; but the affection of the state and action of the vessels or nerves is not, in fracture, the primary disease, but only an extension of it to other parts or other functions, or, more properly, they are new diseases, because they affect new functions, and, though dependent upon it, are, in their nature, entirely different from fracture—the primary disease.