4? PROPERTIES OF MATTER 



ed into leaves, and the whole process of nutri- 

 tion and of growth earned on. It is this power 

 which constitutes the architect and the fabrica- 

 tor, by which the whole machine is erected ; 

 it is the base on which the whole stands, it 

 forms the bond of its elementary parts, the 

 cement that unites them into one whole ; it is 

 the cause primary and efficient, whence the 

 individuality of every living system arises, in 

 which the form and the sex it assumes, essen- 

 tially reside ; by which, the human species 

 differs from the brute, the brute from the vege- 

 table, the vegetable itself from matter inani- 

 mate and common ; this power it is, which I 

 call life. The matter, which this power has 

 assimilated and organised, it is, which I call 

 living matter. It is this principle, which has 

 been named by ARISTOTLE, sifa$, by HARRIS, 

 form by STAHL, vis medicatrix naturte by 

 HALLE R, vis vitce by BLUM EN BACH, nisusfor- 

 mativus by J. BROWN, excitability (if the term 

 has in it any meaning), and by HUNTER, prin- 

 ciple of life. This last term appears to me so 

 appropriate and distinct, that I shall conse- 

 quently retain it. The principle of life may be 

 defined to be" that power, by whose energy differ- 

 ent species of matter are assimilated to one kind, 

 a living system organised and formed ; and the 

 various parts ofivhichit is composed, are protect- 

 ed and preserved from decomposition and decay" 



