Xav. Bichat

“ This principle is life; not understood in its nature, it can be known only by its phenomena: the most general of which is that constant alternation of action on the part of external bodies, and of reaction on the part of the living body, the proportions of which alternation vary according to age.
There is a superabundance of life in the infant, because the reaction is greater than the action. In the adult, an equilibrium is established, and thus this vital turgescence disappears. ”

“ Hence it follows that the sanguineous is the mean system, the centre of organic life, as the brain is of animal life, where those particles to be assimilated, and those, which having already undergone assimilation, are destined to be thrown out, confusedly circulate; so that the blood is composed of two parts, the one recrementitious, produced by the aliments and the exhausted materials of nutrition, and the other excrementitious, which is the rubbage, the residuum of all our organs, and which supplies the secretions and external exhalations. ”

“ The age of lively sensations, is that also of vivacity of motion; in sleep, when the first order is suspended, the second ceases, or is only irregularly exercised. Those blind of one eye, who only half see what surrounds them, connect their different motions with a tardiness and caution which would soon be lost, if their external communications were increased.
A double action is exercised also in organic life; the one is incessantly composing, while the other decomposes the animal. ”

“ AUTHOR'S PREFACE.
Life and death, considered in a general manner, appeared to me a subject susceptible of several views, and many useful experiments. It was this which determined me to undertake the work which I now offer to the Public. ”

“ There is not the same conformity between the two orders of functions of organic life, as between those of animal life; the enervation of the first does not necessarily bring on a diminution of the second: hence leanness, marasmus, &c. states of the body in which assimilation in part ceases, dis-assimilation is exercised uninterruptedly. ”

“ The one is common to vegetable and animal, the other is peculiar to the last. Let us cast our eyes, for example, on an individual of each of these living kingdoms: we shall see that the one exists only within itself, having no other relation to what surrounds it, than as it respects nutrition, that it springs up, flourishes, and dies, in the spot which received its germe ”

“ Natural death is rare.—Accidental death may be divided into that brought on by diseases, and that which happens suddenly.—The latter will more particularly occupy us.—Why?—General phenomenon of all sudden deaths.—They all commence by the heart, lungs and brain.—Course we shall pursue in the examination. ”

“ It begins its exercise only after the others have been long in action, and is extinct long before they cease to act. In the greater part of animals its periods of activity are separated by long intervals of rest; in man, in whom its remissions are less durable, its relations to the functions are not more numerous. The subtraction of those organs which are its agents, is almost always followed by a general increase of nutrition. The eunuch possesses less vital energy; but the phenomena of life in him, are developed in greater plenitude. ”

“ Books resemble each other, either in the facts which they contain, or in the style in which they are written. The comparison of facts is easily made; it will show perhaps that many of those which I offer, were wanting to the science. ”

“ ARTICLE II. General differences of the two lives with respect to the external forms of their respective organs. § I. Symmetry of external forms in animal life.—Examination of the symmetry in the organs of the senses, in the nervous system, brain, locomotive and vocal organs.—Remarks on the muscles and nerves of organic life, 7—9 § II. Irregularity of external forms in organic life.—Examination of this irregularity in the organs of digestion, circulation, respiration, secretion, exhalation, &c. ”

“ It feels and perceives what surrounds it, reflects its sensations, moves voluntarily according to their influence, and most generally has the power of communicating by voice, its desires and its fears, its pleasures or its pains. ”

“ ARTICLE III. Of the influence which the death of the heart exercises upon that of the lungs. Division of respiratory phenomena, 151 § I. Inquiry how the action of the lungs is interrupted, when the heart with black blood ceases to act.—In this case the chymical phenomena are first annihilated, 152 § II. Inquiry how the cessation of action in the heart with red blood interrupts that of the lungs.—In this case death commences by the mechanical phenomena, 153
ARTICLE IV. Of the influence of the death of the heart upon all the organs. ”

“ My experiments have been made often in the presence of a great number, and always with several of the students who attended my lectures. Citizen Hallé has sacrificed much time in repeating the most important ”