Elements of Physiology: Being an Account of the Laws and Principles of the Animal Economy, Especially in Reference to the Constitution of Man. This item is unavailable.Elements of Physiology: Being an Account of the Laws and Principles of the Animal Economy, Especially in Reference to the Constitution of Man

"Elements Of Physiology: Being An Account Of The Laws And Principles Of The Animal Economy, Especially In Reference To The Constitution Of Man" by Thomas Johnstone Aitkin is a nineteenth-century survey that aims to make physiology accessible to general readers by linking anatomy to function and moral reflections. The work presents a coherent account of how the animal body is built to preserve life, emphasizing unity of form and function, and arguing against quackery through a design-based, ethical lens. It balances descriptive anatomy with physiological explanation, foregrounding comparative anatomy across species and tracing core conservative functions such as circulation and respiration, with digestion, absorption, secretion, and nervous system ideas introduced progressively. The text integrates historical theories (Harvey’s circulation) with modern observations, including heart chambers, blood vessels, lungs, liver, spleen, and abdominal portal systems, and discusses respiration mechanics, heat regulation, and development from fetal life to birth. Rich with experiments, anecdotes, and cross-species comparisons, the book situates physiological study within broader philosophical and educational aims.