ON GENERATION. 239 



sense and motion. When this point begins to move for the first 

 time, consequently, we say well that it has assumed an animal 

 nature ; the egg, originally imbued with a vegetative soul, now 

 becomes endowed in addition with a motive and sensitive force ; 

 from the vegetable it passes into the animal; and at the same 

 time the living principle, which fashions the chick from the egg, 

 and afterwards gives it the measure of intelligence it manifests, 

 enters into the embryo. For, from the actions or manifestations, 

 The Philosopher 1 concludes demonstratively, that the faculties 

 or powers of acting are inherent, and through these the cause 

 and principle of life, the soul, to wit, and the actions, inasmuch 

 as manifestation is action. 



I am myself farther satisfied from numerous experiments, 

 that not only is motion inherent in the punctum saliens, which 

 indeed no one denies, but sensation also. For on any the slightest 

 touch, you may see the point variously commoved, and, as it 

 were, irritated; just as sensitive bodies generally give indications 

 of their proper sensations by their motions ; and, the injury 

 being repeated, the punctum becomes excited and disturbed in 

 the rhythm and order of its pulsations. Thus do we conclude 

 that in the sensitive-plant, and in zoophytes, there is inherent 

 sensibility, because when touched they contract, as if they felt 

 uncomfortable. 



I have seen, I repeat, very frequently, and those who have been 

 with me have seen this punctum, when touched with a needle, 

 a probe, or a finger, and even when exposed to a higher tem- 

 perature, or a severer cold, or subjected to any other molesting 

 circumstance or thing, give various indications of sensibility, in 

 the variety, force, and frequency of its pulsations. It is not to 

 be questioned, therefore, that this punctum lives, moves, and 

 feels like an animal. 



An egg, moreover, too long exposed to the colder air, the 

 punctum saliens beats more slowly and languidly; but the finger, 

 or some other warmth being applied, it forthwith recovers its 

 powers. And farther, after the punctum has gradually lan- 

 guished, and, replete with blood, has even ceased from all kind 

 of motion, or other indication of life, still, on applying my warm 

 finger, in no longer a time than is measured by twenty beats 



1 Liber cle Anima. 



