20 ANALYTIC SECT. II. 
conclusion, that animal heat is caused by the 
mutual action of the nervous system and the 
blood. It is generated wherever there are nerves — 
and blood-vessels; and when reduced locally or — 
generally by disease, it may be raised artificially ™ 
to its natural height, or even beyond it, without 
the slightest inflammation. But all this being 
admitted, it still remains to determine what is the 
substance thus produced. Avoiding probability 
and conjecture as the Scylla and Charybdis of 
physiology, I shall simply state the analogies of 
galvanic electricity, and the vital force so far as it 
has been examined. 
xxvil. The quantity of caloric generated by 
galvanism, does not correspond with the bulk of 
the metallic elements employed to excite it, but 
depends on multiplying their points of contact; 
neither does the degree of animal heat correspond 
with the quantity of its exciting substances, but 
depends on multiplying their points of contact. 
xxviu. Diluted nitric acid is the most effectual 
means of augmenting the caloric of a galvanic 
trough. Combined with the oxide of silver, or 
diluted with water, it is also the most effectual 
means of augmenting animal heat when exter- 
nally applied. 
xxix. These analogies between galvanic elec- 
tricity and the calorific process of living organized 

matter, can hardly be fortuitous coincidences; 

