138 



ceased. This conclusion nearly frees our topic from the embarrass^ 

 meut of the alternatives; it almost reduces our question to one con- 

 cerning the continuance of the relation between the vital property 

 of aggregation and the solid particles. 



33. As the spirit assimilates, although its nature is preserved, 

 yet its present quantum is perpetually passing away. The relation 

 of the solid particles being with the nature of the spirit, and with no 

 identical quantum of it, it again suggests itself iu this place that 

 every successive quantum of it is related with its own organic par- 

 ticles; and that therefore aggregation keeps pace with assimilation, 

 which also accounts for the uniformity with which bodies, in a gene- 

 ral way, preserve their bulk or change it slowly; which, in regard to 

 the spirit, has been before spoken of. 



34. If then the new quantum of spirit operates upon particles 

 of its own, that quantum which has passed away has left the organic 

 particles whose place it was its function to determine, without that 

 aggregating affinity which first laid them down, and which if it con- 

 tinued with, would afterwards preserve, them; and consequently 

 these particles can offer no other opposition to an antagonist agent 

 than that which results from the cohesion common to matter. Thus 

 these particles are submitted to the controul of an absorbent 

 function, or they are separated by a chymical process, being deprived 

 of life : one of these appears inevitable ; and as that chymical pro- 

 cess which would take place in the absence of any other means of 

 decomposition is one which is never recognized in a living body, 

 during health, so it seems probable that the agency on the particle, 

 begun by the aggregating spirit, this having ceased, is taken up by 

 that of the absorbent. 



35. That such a cessation of intercourse between the aggre- 

 gating spirit and the organic particle does occur, seems probable 

 from the circumstances 1st, of growth, or regular increase, which 

 proves a relation between the spirit and new organic materials, the 

 operation of which we have no reason to think is suspended during 

 health; and, 2nd, from the rapidity with which the bulk of the 

 body is restored after having been reduced by disease. 



36. This latter view furnishes an indication that the processes 

 of aggregation and absorption are unremitting; and according to 

 this mode they are not incompatible; and it furnishes also an indica- 

 tion that the spirit belonging to the absorbents is the agent by 

 which the waste of particles is accomplished and the material co- 

 hesion overcome. But, as remarked before in the discussion, we 

 have no facts on this subject which amount to proof; and in a for- 

 mer view of a similar question (in the chapter on Assimilation), some 

 objections were cited against the harmony thus exhibited, the force 

 of which was there allowed to prevail. 



37. There are many other points belonging to this relation, 

 such as the period of the continuance of life with the particle it has 

 laid down? It is not improbable but this might be regulated by a 

 relation of the following kind : every organic particle laid down is 



