228 On the Vital Principle. 



mentions that the blood contains the vital prin- 

 ciple* The fame opinion may be found in prac- 

 tical authors, particularly in HuxhaiTij-]- who 

 even mentions the red globules as the peculiar 

 feat of life. 



Mr. Hunter is faid " to confider a mufcle cut 

 " out of the body to be alive as long as it con- 

 *' tinues capable of being a£ted upon by ftimuli 

 " of any kind J ;" and to be of opinion, " that 

 " the particular parts of an animal body have a 

 " principle of life, independent of the effedt 

 " which arifes from their union as one fyftem||." 

 The proof of thefe propolitions, it will be readily 

 feen, is included in that of the particular doftrine 

 they are advanced to fupport. 



Mr. Hunter " alledges that, in the nature of 

 *' things, there is not a more intimate connedlion 

 " between life and a folid, than between life and 

 *'afluid§)" this argument is inconclufive j for 

 we cannot, a priori^ afcertain the degree or 

 fpecies of organization requifite to a vital part. 



Mr. Hunter's firft dired proof of the life of 

 the blood is, that it unites living parts when ef- 

 fufed between themf . That living parts unite, 

 in fome cafes, in confequence of mutual con- 



• Tom. I. p. 33. t Effay on Fever. 



X Medical Comment, ubi fup. 

 II lb. p. 199. , § Id. lb. 



^ Medical Comment, ubi fup. 



tads. 



