PHYSIOLOGY OF ORGANIC LIFE. 146 



pertain, in common, to them all ; it, neverthe- 

 less, does not distinguish the one from the 

 other. The one is distinguished from the 

 other, by the energy of the formative power 

 which converts matter, the same in kind, into 

 instruments totally different, this power does 

 not reside in the matter which is employed, 

 it proceeds, in them, from the efficacy of the 

 artist, by which the matter was modelled, and 

 from the power of the living principle by which 

 it was organised. It is this condition of mat- 

 ter to which Mr. HARRIS has given the ap- 

 pellation of primary matter the v^\ w^ul* of the 

 antients ; the substratum of which all com- 

 posite substances ar.e constituted, without in> 

 parting to them any distinguishing character 

 whatever. Common matter, therefore, with 

 relation to vitality, appears to be divisible and 

 penetrable in all its parts imbecil and inert: 

 to subsist, in fact, in a state of universal pri- 

 vation, extension alone exeepted. 



