. I. IMBIBITION ELASTICITY. 19 



contrary, these elements are situated externally in the case 

 of inorganic bodies. 



During life there is a continual struggle between the 

 physical and vital forces ; death is the triumph of the for- 

 mer over the latter. But shall this be deemed a sufficient 

 proof that vital and physical forces are essentially distinct, 

 and opposite in their modes of action ? Would it be cor- 

 rect to say, that the different parts which together form an 

 arch are endowed with a force opposed to gravity merely 

 because they do not fall ? 



Imbibition. Organized living beings, like all other bodies 

 in nature, are extended, impenetrable, divisible, and porous. 

 Plunge the minto water, or any other liquid, and you will 

 find that, like sand, pounded glass, porous substances, and 

 bodies formed of capillary tubes, they imbibe. This pro- 

 perty is of the greatest importance to them. In a great 

 number of animals, life may be suspended for a considera- 

 ble time with impunity ; but, on contact with water, which 

 they have the power of imbibing, they return to life, and 

 recommence their movements. Who is ignorant of the 

 beautiful experiments made by our illustrious countryman, 

 Spallanzani, on the rotifera ? Observe this tendon and 

 this membrane ; they are hard and shrivelled. One might 

 suppose that they never could have formed any part of an 

 organized body : yet, if we plunge them into water, it will 

 be seen that, in proportion as they imbibe moisture they be- 

 come soft, supple, and elastic, and assume that condition 

 which in the living body, fits them for fulfilling those func- 

 tions for which they were ordained. 



Elasticity. Elasticity belongs to living beings as well 

 as to other bodies of nature. Here are pieces of intestine 

 and of artery ; I can stretch or compress them more or less 

 as I please. If I open this stop-cock, which is fixed to 



