The principal interest, as we think, of this paper on "Irritability," is the evidence it affords of his determination to keep his mind free from preconceived notions on a subject which was at that time calculated to mislead him; especially as he then participated in the general impression that the Oxygen was "the great source of animal heat;" a view which he afterwards, and as we think for excellent reasons, mistrusted.
This view has been revived, but, as far as we know, in no very philosophical spirit. Whilst we would respect the opinions of men, we can only reason on the paramount authority of nature; and we see increasing ground to believe that he who would leave out of physiological inquiries so large a portion of the necessary induction as the phenomena of disease, no matter what be his authority, will only add to the number of those who have shown that, the moment we neglect the most comprehensive search for facts of which our knowledge admits, we fall into error. Mr. Hunter has recorded his opinion of the impossibility of obtaining a knowledge of functions without considering the phenomena of disease; and all experience hitherto has tended to give this observation the validity of an axiom.
CHAPTER XII.
OF EXPERIMENTS ON ANIMALS.
"Know, Nature's children all divide her care;
The fur that warms a monarch warmed a bear."
Pope.