CHAPTER V 



ON f HE PHYSIOLOGY OF ORGANIC LIFE, 



AFTER having detailed, what I conceive to be 

 the deplorable state of ignorance which gene- 

 rally prevails respecting the nature and power 

 of the principle of life, arid of mind, as well as 

 the relation which matter bears to them ; I shall 

 proceed to show that the same ignorance exists 

 respecting the functions of the different organs 

 of which the animated system is composed, 

 through the energy of which the various ends are 

 obtained, for which animated beings areespecial- 

 ly designed. That the nerves are the organs of 

 sense, as the muscles are of motion, compre- 

 hends all we know of their nature ; but of the 

 manner how impressions received, are con- 

 veyed to the brain, in which the impression 

 ends and consciousness begins ; and how voli- 

 tion and motion are imparted to the different 

 muscles of voluntary motion ; whether these 



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