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CHAPTER II. 



*' Nil turpius physico, quam fieri sine causa quidquam dicere." 



CICERO. 



" The ultimate purpose of our researches is to penetrate and 

 lay open the secret springs by which the great system of organi- 

 zation, termed nature, is maintained in a state of perpetual 

 activity. LAWRENCE. 



THE prevalent doctrine of modern physiologists, 

 that the phenomena of life are wholly distinct 

 from those of inorganic matter, has arisen from 

 our imperfect knowledge in regard to the pri- 

 mary physical cause of motion throughout na- 

 ture ; and is refuted by the fact, that the orga- 

 nizing power of the earth, like all the mechanical 

 and chemical transformations that modify its 

 surface, is directly in proportion to the quantity 

 of caloric which it receives from the sun. For we 

 have already seen that as the amount of evapo- 

 ration and rain, the magnitude of rivers, the 

 number of volcanoes, and the elevation of moun- 

 tains diminish from the equator to the regions 

 of lowest mean temperature ; so do the number, 

 variety, and magnitude of organized beings. Let 

 us then reject the notion of Bichat, that " Physics 

 are not accessary, but foreign to the science of 

 physiology." (Life and Death, p. 83.^ 



