0"T' LAERT> "! - USP

462 MODERN TIMES.
logical anatomy, and by RASORI who adapted the theory of
BROWN, intended for the cold torpid natures of the north,
to the conditions of his own southern home. This theory *
became very widely spread, but was as quickly given up *
again as soon as its untenability became manifest. Its position
in reference to scientific research was one of coldness
and indifference and it encumbered practical medicine with
a troublesome polypharmacy which often did more harm
than good.
The vitalistic theory was of more solid worth; it contended
with the irritation theory for dominion in medicine >
and finally wrested victory from it. It took its origin from.
Montpellier, and in many respects recalled the animism
of STAHL; but it differed advantageously from the latter
in the fact that in considering the general principle of life's
which gives rise to order and harmony in the organism, it
by no means neglected the study of the special functions
and component parts of the body, and did not, like it, make"'?
use of the soul to explain all, even the simplest, processes
of life, but only had recourse to it to elucidate the ultimate
active causes at work in the animal organism. It never
succeeded in becoming the chief figure in the picture of
contemporary medicine, but had to be satisfied with
imparting to it its characteristic and predominant colour.
Among its representatives were investigators like
BORDEU, BA.RTHEZ, GRIMAUD, PlNEL, BlCHAT, CHAUSSIER,'|
and others in France, ERASMUS DARWIN in England, ;*•
BLUMENBACH, J. C. REIL, and others in Germany; men
who stood at the head of scientific advance and afforded by
their works the proof that the vitalistic theory w T as not a
barrier to progress. This is, to a large extent, the reason ,
why it still endured when natural philosophy was the prevailing
influence in Germany and the physiological'schoolj
of medicine in France. *
But it led to certain errors, especially in the field of
therapeutics. Those who practised mesmerism and :
homoeopathy maintained that their method of treatment