VITAL MODE OF FORCE. 67 



particulars the "living"'' resembles and differs 

 from the " non-living" I am quite ready to 

 admit that one living thing is only some other 

 living thing, or dead thing, or non-living thing, 

 " variously modified " " under sundry circum- 

 stances," by " subtle influence ;" but I should 

 certainly like to have the meaning of these very 

 ambiguous phrases explained. A man may 

 be said to be only dust " variously modified ;" 

 but consider what is comprised in the " variously 

 modified ! " And perhaps I may be permitted 

 to ask why, if it is right to attribute the mar- 

 vellous phenomena of nutrition to " subtle 

 influences," am I to be condemned because I 

 prefer to employ provisionally the simple term 

 " life," or " vitality," or " vital power" ? 



It is possible the " molecular machinery" 

 which is supposed to condition the physical 

 force and convert it into the vital mode may be 

 discovered ; but at present it is absolutely un- 

 known. It has never been seen, and no one 

 has yet told us what it looks like even in his 

 imagination. 



But I will admit that it is possible such 

 machinery may be beyond the microscopic limit. 

 The imagination of highly gifted persons may 



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