PROXIMATE CONCEPTION OF LIFE. 89 



definite combination of heterogeneous changes, both simul- 

 taneous and successive. 



26. Such is the conception at which we arrive without 

 changing our stand-point. It is, however, an incomplete 

 conception. This ultimate formula (which is to a consider- 

 able extent identical with one above given " the co-ordina- 

 tion of actions ; " seeing that " definite combination " is 

 synonymous with "co-ordination," and "changes both 

 simultaneous and successive " are comprehended under the 

 term " actions ; " but which differs from it in specifying the 

 fact, that the actions or changes are "heterogeneous") this 

 ultimate formula, I say, is after all but a rude approximation. 

 It is true that it does not fail by including the growth of 

 a crystal; for the successive changes this implies cannot be 

 called heterogeneous. It is true that the action of a galvanic 

 battery is not comprised in it; since here, too, heterogeneity 

 is not exhibited by the successive changes. It is true that by 

 this same qualification the motions of the Solar System are 

 excluded, as are also those of a watch and a steam-engine. 

 It is true, moreover, that while, in virtue of their heteroge- 

 neity, the actions going on in a cloud, in a volcano, in a 

 glacier, fulfil the definition ; they fall short of it in lacking 

 definiteness of combination. It is further true that this de- 

 finiteness of combination distinguishes the changes taking 

 place in an organism during life from those which commence 

 at death. And beyond all this it is true that, as well as 

 serving to mark off, more or less clearly, organic actions from 

 inorganic actions, each member of the definition serves to 

 mark off the actions constituting high vitality from those 

 constituting low vitality; seeing that life is high in propor- 

 tion to the number of successive changes occurring between 

 birth and death ; in proportion to the number of simultaneous 

 changes; in proportion to the heterogeneity of the changes; 

 in proportion to the combination subsisting among the 

 changes; and in proportion to the definiteness of their com- 



