-1859] WRITINGS OF JOSEPH HENRY. 117 



vance of a present condition for the future development of 

 organs of sight, of hearing, of reproduction, and of all the 

 varied parts which constitute the ingenious machinery of a 

 living being. Matter without the vital influence may be 

 compared in its condition to steam, which undirected is suf- 

 fered to expend its power in producing mechanical effects on 

 the air and other adjacent bodies, marked with no special 

 indications of design; Avhile matter under its influence may 

 be likened to steam under the directing superintendence of 

 an engineer, which is made to construct complex machinery 

 and to perform other work indicative of a directing intelli- 

 gence. Vitality, thus viewed, gives startling evidence of the 

 immediate presence of a direct, divine, and spiritual essence, 

 operating with the ordinary forces of nature, but being in 

 itself entirely distinct from them. 



This view of the subject is absolutely necessary in carry- 

 ing out the mechanical theory of the equivalency of heat and 

 the correlation of the ordinary physical forces. Among the 

 latter, vitality has no place, and it knows no subjection to the 

 laws by which they are governed. 



All the constituents of organic bodies are formed of organic 

 molecules, and as we have said, i#e of great complexity 

 and are readily disturbed and resolved into a greater num- 

 ber of lesser groups. Thus the constitution of cane sugar is 

 represented by C12, H22, On, making in all 45 atoms. Organic 

 bodies are therefore in what may be called a state of power, 

 or of tottering equilibrium, like a stone poised on a pillar, 

 which the slightest jar will overturn', they are ready to rush 

 into closer union with the least disturbing force. In this 

 simple fact is the explanation of the whole phenomena of 

 fermentation, and of the effect produced by yeast and other 

 bodies, which being themselves in a state of change, over- 

 turn the unstable equilibrium of the organic molecules and 

 resolve them into other and more stable compounds. Fer- 

 mentation then simply consists in the running down of or- 

 ganic molecules from one stage to another, changing their 

 constitution, and at last arriving at a neutral state. There 

 is however one fact in connection with the running down of 



