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CHAP. VI. 



Gtneral Relation of the Spirit with itself in different Seat$. 



1. IT has been fully exhibited in the preceding pages 

 that the organic spirit in its different seats exercises various pro- 

 perties. The varieties of texture invariably denote variety in the 

 properties of the principle which belong to the textures respec- 

 tively. These modifications of properties, may be inferred as be- 

 fore shewn, merely from the varieties of the textures; but there 

 are, also, other differences of vital properties in the respective 

 seats which a 7 re not indicated by corresponding differences in the 

 composition of the texture, and which shew themselves by other 

 products, as those of secretion, &c. Properties also are frequently 

 manifested under disease, when their existence is not to be de- 

 tected in the condition of health. 



2. These properties, or, as we say, the spirit, existing in the 

 several seats, is liable in each to a relation with that existing else- 

 where. It is the design of this section to indicate generally the 

 nature of this relation. 



3. The relation of vital properties in one with those in another 

 seat, may be said to be, 1st, direct; and, 2nd, indirect: direct, as 

 when the spirit being affected in one seat, the influence of this 

 affection is communicated to that in another seat, without the in- 

 tervention of any change in the alliances of the latter, whether 

 chymical or mechanical ; indirect, as when the function of an 

 organ whose office it is to prepare the chymicals for the use of the 

 spirit in other seats, becomes impaired, in consequence of which 

 the spirit is affected elsewhere, by a disturbance of the relation 

 which subsists between it and the chymical or other products of 

 the organ, and not with the spirit belonging to the organ. The 

 more evident examples of the latter are furnished in the prepara- 

 tory organs, to be spoken of hereafter. 



* 4. The instances of direct relation are some of them furnished 

 by physiology, and others by disease. The former are exemplified 

 in the cases where a dependence of the function of one part ap- 

 pears to exist upon that of another. Some obscurity and doubt 

 must rest upon these examples; some of them may, however, be 



