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HIS DISCOVERIES IN SCIENCE. 203
and geometrical analysis of the globules of the blood, from which he derives all
the tissues of the body
—
" Here [says the same author] he also commences to treat of the motions of the
human body ; a subject of which indeed he may be considered the discoverer.
He demonstrates that the brain has a respiratory motion, a rising and falling
synchronous with the inspirations and expirations of the lungs, by means of
which falling the nervous fluid (fluidum spirituosum) is propelled all over the
system, while the expansion of the brain draws the same fluid from the blood
(of which it is the life) through the capillaries of the carotids, into the cortical
substance {corcula cerebri) and so back into the nervous circulation. Set the brain
in motion (says Swedenborg significantly) and you will see the use of all its parts.
This motion generates the motions of the lungs, which react upon those of the
brain and serve as a subsidiary and external attractive cause of the circulation
of the nervous fluid, of which the motions of the brain serve as the internal
cause. Nor is respiration confined to the lungs, but by their means as well as
by the brain, is introduced into all tlie viscera ; the whole being in a state of al-
ternate swell and subsidence ; which constitutes their life and activity, and ex-
cites them perpetually into the performance of their functions. Thus, with
Swedenborg, definite structure has definite function ; and definite function is
nothing more than definite motion ;
Qualis determinatio substantiarum,^ talis acci-
dentium et rmtuum, quas substantias^ sicut stratos ponticulos percurrunt. Every fibre
has its own fluxion.
" The same writer subsequently claims for him the * whole doctrine ’ of the
atomic theory with much show of truth, and next alludes to the composition of
water, which Swedenborg laid down geometrically, stating the chemical equiva-
lents of its components to be of the values of 8 and 1, always calling water,
which is the formula of the present day, 9. These are very striking proofs of
the wonderful genius and expansive mind of Swedenborg. But if it was said
of Goldsmith, by Johnson in his epitaph, that he left no subject of human learn-
ing untouched, and never touched any subject that he did not adorn, how much
more applicable is the sentiment to the illustrious Swede ! /We have seen that
in philosophy, mineralogy, magnetism, anatomy, physiology, algebra, ethics,
theology, and geometry, he excelled all other authors of his age, we have now to
view him in the light of an astronomer.
" Herschel discovered first in the year 1781, a seventh planet ; but Sweden-
borg so early as 1745, in his work on the Worship and Love of God, § 11, speaks
of seven primary planets ; he even mentions seven planets in his Principia
Rerum Naturalium, published in 1734.
" We have at length, we think, placed such acts of Swedenborg’s wonderful
powers of mind before the reader that we can hardly suppose that he now
entertains the same opinion of that great man as when he commenced the pe-
rusal of this article. He can surely no longer subscribe to the foolish and
wicked story of his madness—invented by one Mathesiu^, a Lutheran minister,
who afterwards went mad himself {see ’ Documentsj"
p. 145, «i ante etpostea) oi
credit the report of his being a visionary. Visionaries do not deal in geometry,
and algebra, and mathematics, nor do they make great discoveries in the brain.
" In conclusion, we record our opinion positively, and not relatively ; wholly,
and without reservation, that if the mode of reasoning and explanation adopted
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