VITAL ENERGY NOT FORCE. 25 



fied, as there is absolutely no reason for inferring 

 that any mode of energy possesses formative 

 constructive power. The idea of motion, or 

 heat, or light, or electricity forming, or building 

 up, or constructing any texture capable of ful- 

 filling a definite purpose, seems absurd, and 

 opposed to all that is known, and yet is the 

 notion continually forced upon us that vitality, 

 which does construct, is but a correlate of 

 ordinary energy or motion. It is, however, 

 obvious, that unless it can be shown, i, that 

 vitality can be converted into heat, or some 

 other mode of force ; or, 2, that some mode of 

 force or energy can be made to assume the 

 form of vitality, there is no sufficient reason for 

 accepting the conclusion which has been held 

 with such tenacity, and so unfairly forced upon 

 public attention. The doctrine is indeed only 

 a dogma resting upon assertion, and can only 

 be entertained in opposition to every accepted 

 principle of scientific observation and experi- 

 ment. Education in the new physical philosophy 

 has undoubtedly excited in the mind of many 

 persons, certain prejudices from which they 

 find it exceedingly difficult to emancipate them- 

 selves. The heavy penalties attached to the 



