CH. VI.] OLD AGE AND DEATH. 355 



703. The termination of animal life is death, which there- 

 fore occurs when no animal force whatever exercises the slightest 

 action on the organism (638). 



704. The spiritual death of a reasoning animal is the end of 

 its intellectual life, and takes place when not a single higher 

 animal-sentient force exercises the slightest action in the 

 organism. In this kind of death, sensational life and the 

 union of body and soul may still continue (641). 



705. Sensational death comprises also spiritual death, and 

 takes place when not a single sensational force exercises the 

 slightest action in the organism. It has been termed peculiarly 

 the death of the animal, or the deprivation of life, since it 

 completely destroys the connection of body and soul (640); 

 mere animal life may, however, continue. 



706. Complete death takes place when not one of all the 

 animal forces any longer acts in the slightest degree, or when 

 the vis nervosa has ceased to act. The popular mistake as to 

 this kind of death has been already noticed (643) , 



707. Natural death occurs from the natural death of the 

 animal forces, after the animal has attained its full growth and 

 perfection, and takes place necessarily. Few animals, and least 

 of all mankind, die a natural death, and death occurring under 

 other circumstances is termed accidental, the causes of which 

 may be found in Haller^s ^ Physiology,' § 959. 



708. Animal death in the strict sense, or the separation of 

 the soul from the body, whether accidental or natural, takes 

 place, either when the natural functions of the primary vital 

 forces altogether cease, others being subordinate to them, or 

 when the animal-sentient forces are abolished. In the former 

 case, it results in consequence of the entire death of the animal, 

 which includes the separation of the soul and body; in the 

 latter case, mere animal life may continue after such separation 

 (640). We will consider the modes in which it may occur. 



709. 710. The union of body and mind is sundered when 

 the animal ceases wholly to exist. An animal wholly ceases to 

 exist when its vis nervosa is abolished, together with all its 

 natural effects in the economy. No portion of the animal 

 machines is susceptible of vis nervosa without a suitable 

 structure, and without vital spirits (661, 663); and cannot 

 be supplied with the latter independently of the primary 

 vital force of the brain or nerves, by which the vital spirits 



