139 



in alliance with a certain quantum of the spiritual elements, and 

 life continues to reside in the particle until its spiritual elements 

 have changed their form by assimilation. The other questions 

 hinted at are, how long may the organic particle be preserved by 

 material cohesion, supposing that the affinity of the spirit with it by 

 change of relation has ceased, and supposing no chymical processes 

 of decomposition (which are not recognized) to interfere? Is the 

 separation of the organic particle accomplished wholly by an absor- 

 bent function, or in part, or sometimes by attrition of the fluids, the 

 spiritual affinity having ceased ? or do other properties of the spirit 

 contribute to detach that which is no longer possessed of life? &c. 



38. These considerations are rather intricate ; and unless they 

 are made points of a specific inquiry, in which the recollection 

 would concentrate its efforts upon the facts referring to single par* 

 ticulars, there is no great chance of succeeding with them more 

 minutely, 



39, It is therefore best to say, with the degree of assurance 

 which corresponds with the testimony, that the aggregating and 

 absorbent spirits are antagonist; that the one prevails upon a particle 

 as long as the particle is subjected to it ; that the particle, by change 

 of its relations, being free, is then submitted to the laws and influ- 

 ence of the other, 



40, The growth of the absorbent vessels, as they are called, is 

 in a ratio to that of the other structures. It appears therefore that 

 this structure must be furnished with vital properties of opposite 

 tendencies; that is, while their vital properties are engaged in a pro- 

 cess of destruction, in removing the particles composing the textures, 

 they are at the same time occupied in laying down and accumu- 

 lating (during growth at least) the organic particles which compose 

 themselves. 



41. The only intelligible theory of the manner of absorption 

 is that which supposes these vessels to commence with open mouths 

 at every point (so minutely mixed) of the structures. The relation 

 which enforces the function is between the mouths only of these 

 vessels, and the contiguous organic particles. As absorption (with 

 some equivocal and unimportant exceptions) is a process belonging 

 only to the living subject, it is to be inquired what share the organic 

 spirit has in it ? The alternatives are two : 1st, it may operate on 

 the organic particle to be absorbed mediately; or, 2nd, it may 

 influence it directly. In the former case it may give the vessel an 

 undulating contractile motion, the direction of which being from the 

 origin of the tube to a centre of connection wifh others, the effect 

 would be to produce a vacuum agreeing with this course. This in 

 effect is tantamount to a power of attraction, by which loose par- 

 ticles may be received into and propagated along the absorbent 

 vessel. In the latter case the direct influence of vital properties 

 may be an imitation of the mode, to a certain extent, which is ob- 

 served of the stomach, namely, that its vital properties are capable 

 of decomposing organic particles which have lost their aggregating 



