31 



diminishes till the muscles become quite 

 pliant ; and then, and not till then, does 

 putrefaction ensue. 



Mr. Hunter has known this last vital 

 contraction to occur in parts severed from 

 the body sixty hours after their separation, 

 upon the removal of causes which had 

 impeded the contraction before that period ; 

 a proof that life in a certain degree 

 was still resident in the part. He ob- 

 served that death produced by lightning, 

 or large charges of electricity, or by cer- 

 tain kinds of injuries and diseases, pre- 

 vented this contraction, and even tho 

 coagulation of the blood ; and that pu^ 

 trefaction would in such cases very rapid- 

 ly take place. From facts of this kind, 

 as well as from many others, he drew 

 an inference, which has not I believe 

 been disputed, and therefore I need not 

 enter into the discussion of it at length, that 



