The phenomena of electricity and of 

 life correspond. Electricity may be at- 

 tached to, or inhere, in a wire; it may 

 be suddenly dissipated, or have its powers 

 annulled, or it may be removed by de- 

 grees or in portions, and the wire may 

 remain less and less strongly electrified, 

 in proportion as it is abstracted. So life 

 inheres in vegetables and animals ; it may 

 sometimes be suddenly dissipated, or have 

 its powers abolished, though in general 

 it is lost by degrees, without any apparent 

 change taking place in the structure ; and 

 in either case putrefaction begins when 

 life terminates. 



The motions of electricity are charac- 

 terized by their celerity and force ; so 

 are the motions of irritability. The mo- 

 tions of electricity are vibratory ; so like- 

 wise are those of irritability. When by 

 long continued exertion the power of 



