On the Vital Principle. 233 



that this diftindion is only nominal, or, as Sen- 

 nertus exprefles it, % differentia in anima*. 



Two general reflexions occur, on this imper- 

 fed view of the progrefs of opinions refpefting 

 a vital principle; that the chief difficulty con> 

 fifled, in the perfuafion that matter is totally 

 inert, and infufceptible of fenfitive life, by any 

 organization, which Hoffman juftly calls infeli 

 ciffmum dogma-\; and thatfyftematic diftinftions, 

 in this, as in other cafes, have been miftaken 

 for effential differences. 



Accordingly, inconfiftences are to be found 

 in feveral of thefe opinions ; thus Dr. Haller 

 affigns two diftinfl powers, the vis nervea^ and 

 vis inftta, for producing the fimple aclion of one 

 mufcle ] and though the nervous fyftem is ge- 

 nerally allowed to be the medium of fenfation 

 and voluntary motion, yet Dr. Gaubius has 

 contrived to exclude this vehicle of the living 

 power from the title of the vital folids ; Vis vitalis 

 Jolidi eji, qua id ad contaSliim irrilamenti Je contrahit, 

 cri/pat. It is well known that the nerves have no 

 power of contraftion. Gaubius muft have fup- 

 pofed the exiftence of a nervous fluid to be granted, 

 in formiing this definition, for it does not appear, 



probe ratione diverfarum operationum, quas difcrepantem 

 ctiam cffentiam produnt, font diftinguenda. T. I. p. S8. 



* Inlllt. of Med, feiS. XCVII, 



t Pioleg. cap. III. 



from 



