EVOLUTION OF LIFE. 51 



rial system ; the oesophagus and stomach, with 

 its auxiliary organs; namely, the spleen, the 

 pancreatic, and hepatic systems; the omen- 

 turn, the intestinal canal, and lacteal vessels, 

 &c. &c. Under the second head, might be 

 mentioned, the bones and many of the volun- 

 tary muscles attached to them, the generating 

 organs, and the venous and lymphatic absor- 

 bent systems, the teeth, the hair, the nails, &c. 

 During the foetal state, the brain is in a state of 

 growth without consciousness, and of sense 

 without sensation ; the muscles are without 

 voluntary motion ; the lungs without respira- 

 tion ; the stomach without digestion ; the in- 

 testinal canal without peristaltic motion ; and 

 the lacteal vessels without absorption. 



Although these different organs are in a pas- 

 sive state, no doubt can exist of their possess- 

 ing a power to act, and that they only require 

 proper objects adapted to the nature of each, 

 to excite and display that power in the pro- 

 duction of action. It is this power of acting, 

 of the eye to see, of the ear to hear, of the 

 tongue to taste, of the stomach to digest, 

 which I denominate predisposition. 



Predisposition, therefore, appears to be a 

 state of dormant power, or a power in capacity ; 

 it resembles the elasticity of a spring, while it 

 is coiled up ; it is like the figures engraven on 

 a seal, before they are participated by the wax; 



