123 



for every variety therefore in the quality of the secretion we must 

 infer a corresponding condition of the nature or constitution of the 

 cause upon which it depends. 



2nd, With regard to the disposition of our ulcer in other re- 

 spects, instead of healing it becomes more extensive ; these diffe- 

 rences are not dependent merely upon a power whose only property 

 is to make tubes contract faster or slower, to render them larger or 

 smaller, to make them pour out their contents or not pour out their 

 contents. The disposition of the ulcer must be regulated by causes 

 capable of producing more than the effects of hydraulic agency, 

 seeing that its disposition is expressed by processes and varieties in 

 which hydraulic agency can take but a subordinate part. 



3rd, The condition of the ulcer gradually changes, and new 

 organic substance is produced from it. What degree of a principle 

 capable of exerting only the single property of regulating the action 

 or caliber of vessels is capable of forming an animal structure? of 

 endowing that which it has formed with life? of rendering it capa- 

 ble of more phenomena than can be enumerated? I shall pursue 

 this topic no further at present: I will merely remark that these 

 proofs are also applicable against the sufficiency of the other con- 

 tractilities. Without therefore continuing my objections to the 

 doctrines of life and disease, which have prevailed, and do prevail, 

 J shall proceed to state what appears to me the true mode of con- 

 sidering these subjects, the latter of which, viz. disease, being here 

 cited only in the way of illustration, will hereafter be distinctly 

 spoken of. 



16. It has been shewn, in treating of the conditions of the 

 ovum, that the organic spirit is vastly compounded; that it has 

 many properties has been there demonstrated by tracing their par- 

 ticular acts, and that its properties are infinite is shewn by the gene- 

 ral principles of causation. 



17. Hence its general condition is this: it is one whole, the 

 parts of which (to render the division comprehensible) exist in 

 several spheres, which agree with the portions, whether large or 

 minute, of the organized fabric. 



18. This spirit shews itself to be possessed of a great diversity 

 of properties in the different material systems; it has in every seat 

 numerous relations: by these relations it is either preserved identi- 

 cally, or modified and by them its identity or its modifications are 

 expressed. 



19. The effects of the combinations of the properties consti- 

 tuting the spirit may, to a certain extent, be said to agree with the 

 contractilities before referred to. But it must be remembered that 

 these are only certain effects of properties which are latent and 

 which have an internal causation, and alliances both regular and 

 occasional by which phenomena are produced and diversified. 

 Whether a better classification of these effects may be adopted will 

 be considered hereafter. 



