regulating Vital and Physical Phenomena. S49 



— in fact a distinct ovaia or entity, of the nature of whose ex- 

 istence, whether material or immaterial, modern philosophers 

 hesitate in giving a distinct opinion. It will scarcely be worth 

 while to examine the arguments upon which this doctrine has 

 been maintained, since we find the highest authorities of the 

 present day joining in condemning it as altogether unphiloso- 

 phical. 



" This idea is both unsupported by evideiue, and useless in the explana- 

 tion of facts.'' — Alison's Physiology, p. 3. '• The hypothesis of a vital prin- 

 ciple is a weapon ready to cut any knot, but capable of untying none."— Pri- 

 chard on the Vital Principle, p. 128. " It has been proved by a careful exa- 

 mination to be wanting in every characteristic of a legitimate theory."— Ibid* 

 p. 132. « Ainsi, les forces premieres, que Ton dit animer les divers corps 

 naturels, ne sont pas des etres reels, exi.star.ts par eux-memes, comme on le 

 croyait dans I'ancienne philosophie." — Adelon, Physiologie, torn. iv. 



JJut it may not be amiss to add a few observations suggested 

 by the foregoing reasonings, tending to shew that the supposi- 

 tion is not in the least degree requisite, that it is inconsistent 

 with known facts, and that it receives not the shadow of a con- 

 firmation from the analogies of matter. 



30. We have endeavoured to shew that an analysis of the 

 functions of living beings terminates in referring them all to 

 certain properties possessed by their component structures, 

 which properties stand in the same relation to organized tissues 

 as the properties of gravitation, electricity, &c., do to matter in 

 general. Their existence must, for the present at least, be re- 

 garded as an ultimate fact in physiology. These properties 

 are called into action by stimuli of various kinds fitted to ex- 

 cite them. Whatever adaptation, therefore, we discover in the 

 various functions, both to each other and to the general end of 

 all, implies no more than an adaptation of the structure and 

 properties of the organs by which they are performed. Now, 

 every tissue has its own laws of development ; but all these 

 laws are subservient to one general principle, that all organized 

 structures shall take their origin from previously existing orga- 

 nisms. Our inquiry, therefore, leads us back to the first crea- 

 tion of each species ; and if we conceive that at that period the 

 Parent of all impressed upon the elements of which each wad 

 composed, the spirit of the laws which should in future govern 

 its growth and reproduction (just as he impressed upon the 



VOL. XXIV. NO. XLVIII.— APEIL 1838. A 8 



