230 On the Vital Principle. 



ro's experiments on this fubjeft*; in Dr. Monro's 

 plates, the new vefTels are evidently of larger 

 diameter where they join the divided veffels than 

 in the centre of the newly formed part; nay, in 

 a newly formed piece of fkin, in plate 46th, the 

 new veffels, inftead of proceeding from a com- 

 com point, come in, tapering from the fides, to 

 form a circle round the centre. 



The third dire£t proof of the life of the blood f 

 is, that its temperature, as it flows from the vein, 

 is always equal, in the moft oppofite temperatures 

 to which the body can bear expofure. This cer- 

 tainly proves the power generally afcribed to the 

 living body, of preferving its own temperature, 

 to a certain degree, notwithitanding the aftion of 

 external heat or cold, but till the adtion of the 

 veffels in this cafe can be done away, the fa6t will 

 furnifli no exclufive evidence in favour of the 

 life of the blood. 



Mr. Hunter's fourth direft argument is, that 

 blood is capable of being adled upon by a fliimu- 

 lus| J the proof of which is, that '< blood coagu- 

 <' lates from expofure, as certainly as the cavity 

 *< of the thorax or abdomen inflames from the 

 " fame caufe||." But as the fpontaneous fepara- 

 tion of the conltituent parts of the blood may be 



♦ Obfervations on the Nervous Syftein, p. 86. 



f Med. Com. p. 200. 



X Med. Com. p. 201. || Ibid. 



verv 



