PHYSIOLOGY OF ORGANIC L1F&. J41 



" Maid arise;' and her spirit came again, and 

 she arose straightway. Here then was a case 

 of suspension of all organic action, while the 

 power of preservation subsisted. We have 

 similar instances related in the book of Kings, 

 of the prophet Elijah reviving the widow's son; 

 and of our Lord himself, when he reanimated 

 the son of Nain's widow. On the contrary, 

 when the evangelist speaks of death, he makes 

 a very evident distinction between the signs 

 by which it is characterised, and those that at- 

 tend suspended animation only; as in the case of 

 Lazarus, who had been dead four days, where it 

 is said, " that he stinketh" Here then we find, in 

 scripture itself, an evident distinction between 

 the mere suspension of organic action, while 

 the general properties of preservation continue 

 to subsist, and the total deprivation of life, 

 with the consequent loss of all organic power. 

 Death, therefore, constitutes that interme- 

 diate state which exists, when the powers of life 

 are displayed in organic action, and the total 

 decomposition of the whole machine into its 

 constituent parts. However different the means 

 may be, by which death and decompostion are 

 effected, the end is certainly the same in 

 all. There are, it is true, various means by 

 which the actions of life are supported, as well 

 as various means, by which those actions can 

 be suspended, and annihilated. Every indivi- 



