1844] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. 223 



not the opinion of many chemists of the present day be 

 adopted, namely, that it is due to the decomposing energy 

 of the sun's rays, which are found to exhibit a wonderful 

 decomposing effect in cases where no vital phenomena are 

 present. 



If this hypothesis be adopted, it must be supposed that 

 vitality is that mysterious principle which propagates a form 

 and arranges the atoms of organizable matter, while the 

 power with which it operates, as well as that developed by 

 the burning fuel and the moving animal, is a separate force, 

 derived from the divellent power of the sunbeam. It is 

 true that this is as yet little more than a mere hypothesis, 

 and as such forms no part of positive science, but it appears 

 to be founded on a clear physical analogy, and may there- 

 fore form the basis of definite philosophical research. 



