AND ANIMAL LIFE. 363 



CHAP. XVI. 



An Inquiry into the Nature of the Vital 

 Principle. 



SECT. I. An Investigation of the different Phenomena 

 attributed to an Unknown or Immaterial Principle. 



CCCCXXXV. IN undertaking the present 

 subject, I am not insensible that I tread upon 

 ground deemed sacred by the vulgar and the 

 greater part of the enlightened of mankind. 

 The prejudices of youth and of education, and the 

 various associations connected with what is 

 great or wonderful in Nature, tend to retard ma- 

 terially our knowledge of phenomena which are 

 properly within the comprehension of our facul- 

 ties. The child regards, with infinite, pleasure, the 

 different motions of the automaton, or the vari- 

 ous actions of the puppet, without being able to 

 consider the cause of its admiration ; and the 

 mind of man is also liable to be unduly excited, 

 or improperly directed, in observing the phe- 

 nomena of animal and vegetable nature, as these 

 differ so widely from every effect characteristic 

 of inert matter. 



