262 ALL ORGANIZATION 



the same kind. Neither have they, in themselves, 

 any principle by which they can increase their quan- 

 tity out of other matter. It is because the smallest 

 portions into which we can divide such substances 

 suffer nothing but in quantity of matter by the sepa- 

 ration of the other portions, that we call them inor- 

 ganic, the different parts of them not being instru- 

 ments, useless out of their place, but in it conducing 

 to some general purpose which they would not ac- 

 complish if out of the combination. 



All chymical compounds have properties different 

 from those of the substances of which they are com- 

 pounded, but then the chymical compound is not or 

 ganized ; for all parts of it are alike, or if there be 

 any portion of the mass which has different qualities 

 from the rest, then that is no organ, nor even a part 

 of that compound in any way ; it is a different sub- 

 stance. 



Wherever there is organization in a state of ac- 

 tivity there is life ; and perhaps the best definition 

 of material life, taken in its most extended sense, is 

 the faculty, or power, of producing or maintaining 

 an organization, a system of local parts performing 

 different functions, but all conducing to some effect 

 which is never, in any instance, produced by inor- 

 ganic matter, how active soever that matter may be 

 in its own way. Organized substances have not the 

 permanence of inorganic matter. That remains un- 

 altered if kept from the action of every thing but 

 itself; but organized substances, if taken out of those 

 situations and circumstances which are favourable 

 to them, die : and, so far as we know, they are all sub- 

 ject to natural death. When one of them perishes, 

 either from natural decay or from accident, that 

 same one is gone for ever, never to return ; and 

 there are no artificial means, nor do we know of 

 any process in nature, by which it can be got back 

 again. 



But although that may be regarded as universally 



