176 Some Account o/M. Bichat's 77ieo}y of Life. 



or an alembic; the lungs a furnace, and respiration a true 

 combustion, where the refuse and stubble of the system were 

 consumed, and by the same means, with a commendable oeco- 

 nomy, the animal heat was maintained ; whilst secretion and 

 exhalation wei-e resolved into the operations of precipitation 

 and distillation. These false views have always retarded the 

 progress of the science. But with Bichat the properties of 

 life were all in all. The phsenomena of the system, whether 

 in health or disease, were all ascribed to their influence and 

 operation. And although there is doubtless much room for 

 difference of opinion with regard to the particular views which 

 he entertained of the nature of vitality, and although much 

 may be said in defence of the opinion that it consists in one 

 single independent pi'inciple, and not in a collection of distinct 

 properties, yet this really makes very little difference. It is 

 as easy to conceive the different properties to be so many di- 

 stinct modes of operation of one principle, as it is to view them 

 as existing separately, and only acting in concert. We have 

 only to alter a few modes of expression, accordingly as we 

 adopt one or the other of these hypotheses ; the things in- 

 tended remain essentially the same, /. e. the vital functions arei 

 all referred to the ojieration of the vital laws, in the same way 

 that the pha?nomena of physics and chemistry are all referred 

 to physical and chemical laws. 



To many of these opinions of Bichat tliere are strong ob- 

 jections ; and in a general way it may be observed, that he has 

 very much over-rated and exaggerated the distinctions which 

 exist between the two lives, that he has too often exhibited a 

 caricature of the truth. Not that he had not himself perfectly 

 clear ideas of their exact connexions and distinctions ; but it 

 happened, that, carried away by an ardour which had often as 

 much poetry as philosophy in it, he gave to his doctrines the 

 colouring of a warm and rich imagination, and, like eveiy en- 

 thusiastic young man who is eager in the diltusion of favourite 

 opinions, frequently drew truth v.ith too bold and well defined 

 outlines, and represented that as entirely distinct in nature, 

 which was only so in his artificial arrangement, and in nature 

 was blended and compounded with something else. His sy- 

 stem affords a h:>p}^y and striking expression of some of the 

 fundamental distinctions of physiology ; and though in some 

 measure calculated to give to beginners in the science views a 

 httle too artificial, yet when qualified by a proper acquaintance 

 with the details of the phaenomena of life, as exhibited in the 

 whole vital creation, is better adapted than any other to form 

 us to con-ect, methodical, and distinct views. 



To speak more particularly, much might be said to show 



that 



