io6 Human Physiology. 



limiting boundary, denned by an inward cause, or the action of 

 the forces which cause growth and organisation. This is seen 

 in the peculiar forms of all plants and animals, and all their 

 parts and organs. 



In unorganised matter, beauty consists of straight lines and 

 sharp angles, as in the beauty of crystals; but in all living 

 things we delight in graceful curves. Inorganic bodies grow 

 by the addition of atoms without. Crystals are built up like a 

 mass of masonry; but all organised bodies grow by matter 

 which is first prepared within. 



Every living form has grown from a germ separated from 

 another of which it is the counterpart or reproduction. 



All organised beings have a limited term of existence a 

 diamond lasts for an indefinite period. 



Vegetables expand from a germ, unfold or develop their 

 various organs, feed upon the nutriment they need in the air 

 around them, or the liquids they suck up by their roots, which 

 they transform into woody fibre, starch, sugar, gum, delicious 

 juices, odours, fruit, flowers, and the germs which produce 

 similar organisations. 



Animals do all this and more they walk, swim, fly, see, 

 hear, smell, feel, love, hate, and perform the most complex 

 physical and intellectual operations. "The first office," says 

 Lindley, " which all organised beings have to perform is feed- 

 ing; for it is thus that existence is maintained. The second is 

 that of propagating, by means of which the species is per- 

 petuated." 



That which gives those varied and wonderful powers to 

 organised beings we call Life. But what is Life? 



"Life," says Bichat, "is the sum total of the functions that 

 resist death." 



" Life," says Beclard, " is organisation in action." 



Life is defined by another physiologist to be " the resistance 

 opposed by organic bodies to the causes of destruction." 



