350 ANIMAL NATURE AS A AVHOLE. [i"- 



694. Proper animal life, or in other words the connection 

 of body and soul, ceases, 



i. When the primary vital forces cease, that is to say when 

 the circulation is altogether arrested, so that no blood is sent 

 to the brain, and that already sent is no longer retained in it ; 

 or when the functions of those portions of the brain which 

 secrete the vital spirits is altogether abolished, so that no more 

 is secreted, and that already circulating in the nervous system 

 is used up or destroyed. 



ii. When, although the circulation of the blood and secretion 

 of vital spirits go on, the brain itself is so changed, that neither 

 an external impression, even if it reach the cerebral origin of 

 the nerves, nor a conception, can produce a material idea in it. 

 This takes place, when the brain is entirely removed or de- 

 stroyed, or so under the influence of poisons, that its functions 

 are abolished, — circumstances which change the animal into 

 an insentient animal machine. 



iii. When an animal no longer has in the slightest degree, 

 either an external sensation, or a sensational or intellectual 

 conception, or when neither these, nor external impressions, 

 develop any material ideas whatever ; for under these circum- 

 stances the soul has no connection with the body, whether it 

 have an independent existence or not, and, consequently, the 

 life of the sentient-animal terminates (610). 



Note. — In these conditions consist the first principles 

 of our knowledge of the causes of death; of the fatality 

 of wounds, poisons, and other injurious agents; and the 

 question of life or death in disease and in doubtful cases, 

 (vide § 710, &c.) 



695. All natural functions are subordinate to the animal- 

 sentient forces, in so far as they are sentient actions and forces 

 of other sentient actions subordinate to them; and result (sub- 

 ject to the general conditions of proper animal life) from all 

 conceptions, in so far as they are excited by external impres- 

 sions, or the sensational or conceptive force. 



696. In particular, all the sentient actions enumerated 

 § § 97 — 100, and considered in detail in subsequent chapters ; 

 and all those developed in the tissues and organs, considered 

 §§ 160 — 179, and in the capillaries (207), are subordinate to 

 the animal-sentient forces. 



