378 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



prolonged when it is ebbing from the natural 

 decay of the organs essential to its perfection or 

 continuance ; but we are not aware that the child 

 possesses a superabundance of animal heat or 

 strength of constitution; and therefore, it is 

 highly probable, when it is thus circumstanced, 

 that its health may be impaired, and the evolu- 

 tion of its future powers may be materially cir- 

 cumscribed. 



CCCCL. I have already remarked that life has 

 its degrees in the same individual at different pe- 

 riods of life, and in different states of the sys- 

 tem ; and it has also its degrees in various parts 

 of the animal frame. The extremities, from the 

 effects of wounds, ligatures, or exposure to great 

 cold, are more liable to mortify than any other 

 parts of the body. As they are the farthest remov- 

 ed from the source of circulation and animal heat, 

 the vigour of the one and the extent of the other 

 are considerably modified before they reach these 

 distant parts ; and it is from this cause that cold, 

 for example, occasionally produces immediately 

 fatal effects. In this instance, the limb or the 

 toes die for want of the proper quantity of blood ; 

 consequently this fluid contains the principles of 

 life. 



The above reasoning explains an experiment 

 of HUNTER, which is otherwise accounted for 

 by him. He reduced the temperature o*f the 



