VITAL PROPERTIES. 27 



to the constituent elements of their tissues ? Do the pro- 

 perties of the elements of dog differ sufficiently from those 

 of the elements of man, to account for the differences 

 between dog and man. Have we not rather identity of com- 

 position in the living matter, and marvellous difference in 

 the results of the vital actions ? How, then, can the 

 differences be due to the ordinary properties of the ele- 

 ments ? Wonderful properties have indeed to be dis- 

 covered in connection with elements before we can refer 

 the differences in property of living beings compounded 

 of them to the properties of the elements themselves. The 

 argument advanced against vitality, as far as it rests upon 

 the non-existence of aquosity, is utterly worthless, and it is 

 astonishing that any writer who gave his readers credit for 

 moderate intelligence should have adduced it at all. 



The different forms and properties of living beings can 

 only be explained by supposing the influence of force dif- 

 ferent from ordinary forces acting upon the matter of which 

 they are composed, or upon the existence of properties 

 other than the inorganic properties transmitted or handed 

 down from pre-existing matter having similar, though, per- 

 haps, not identical properties. These vital properties seem 

 to be superadded to matter temporarily, and are obviously 

 not permanent endowments. The one class of properties 

 remains permanently attached to the elements of matter ; 

 the other may be once removed, but can never be restored. 

 The material properties belong to the matter, whether living 

 or dead ; but where are the vital properties in the dead 

 material? If physicists and chemists would restore to life 

 that which is dead, we should all believe in the doctrine 



