40 VITAL LAWS OF CALORIC. 



decay of vegetation, constitute a natural thermo- 

 meter on a grand scale. It will also be found, 

 that organized bodies are composed chiefly of 

 those elements which contain the largest amount 

 of caloric around their particles ; by which they 

 are rendered proportionally active, and endowed 

 with the faculty of entering into vital combina- 

 tions, so as to form highly complex tissues : that 

 the vital energy of animals, the activity of their 

 functions, and the developement of their organs, 

 are in proportion to the amount of caloric which 

 circulates through, and is employed in combining 

 arterial blood with the solids. A right under- 

 standing of these laws is of vastly greater im- 

 portance than those of Geology, Astronomy, or 

 even Chemistry. For until we comprehend the 

 operations of life, health, disease, the modus 

 operandi of medicines and morbific agents, the 

 healing art can never take its appropriate rank 

 among the exact sciences ; nor be rescued from 

 the charge of mysticism, quackery, and igno- 

 rance of what is essential to the character of a 

 philosophical physician. But as " the strength 

 of a science is, like that of the old man's fagot, 

 in the bond," the candid seeker after truth is 

 requested to suspend his judgment, until he shall 

 have carefully examined the whole of the evi- 

 dence adduced in support of the author's peculiar 

 views. 



