OF VITAL MOTION. 17 



study the phenomena of cyclosis in relation to the 

 agents, which reside within the organism. 



2. Of intra-organic force as the agent in the 

 phenomena of cyclosis. 



In addition to vital and peculiar principles, we find 

 within the organism the several forces of ordinary 

 matter namely, heat, chemical affinity, electricity, 

 and the rest. Of these agents, at this stage of our 

 inquiry, heat is the only one whose effects are tangible 

 and intelligible, and therefore we leave the others in 

 abeyance for the present. 



We know from the history of the animal economy 

 that the production of organic heat will be commen- 

 surate with the molecular changes of the nutrient 

 fluid, and the solid textures in relation to this fluid ; 

 and hence we may argue that the quantity of latex 

 present in any part of the laticiferous web, will be a 

 fitting measure of the capacity of that part for the 

 production of heat. A greater amount of this influ- 

 ence, we may argue, will be extricated where the 

 vessels are dilated and congested with sap, (yasa 

 expansa,) than in the places where the vascular 

 calibre is contracted, and the contents evacuated 

 {vasa contracta). 



The variable sizes of the laticiferous tubes, which 

 is characteristic of the system, may therefore be the 

 cause of some irregularities in the origination and 



c 



