60 PHYSIOLOGY OF LIFE. 



1. "If," says Mr. Lawrence, "the properties of living 

 matter are to be explained in this way, why should not 

 we adopt the same plan with physical properties, and 

 account for gravitation, or chemical affinity, by the sup- 

 position of appropriate subtile fluids ? Why does the irri- 

 tability of a muscle need such an explanation, if explana- 

 tion it can be called, more than the elective attraction of 

 a salt ?" 



2. " To make the matter more intelligible, this vital 

 principle is compared to magnetism, to electricity, and to 

 galvanism; or it is roundly stated to be oxygen. 'Tis 

 like a camel, or like a whale, or like what you please." 



3. "You have only to grant that the phenomena of 

 the sciences just alluded to depend on extremely fine and 

 invisible fluids, superadded to the matters in which they 

 are exhibited, and to allow further that Life, and magnetic, 

 galvanic, and electric phenomena correspond perfectly; 

 the existence of a subtile matter of Life will then be a very 

 probable inference." 



4. " On this illustration you will naturally remark, 

 that the existence of the magnetic, electric, and galvanic 

 fluids, which is offered as a proof of the existence of a 

 vital fluid, is as much a matter of doubt as that of the 

 vital fluid itself." 



5. "It is singular, also, that the vital principle should 

 be like both magnetism and electricity, when these two 

 are not like each other." 



