380 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



CCCCLII. It is stated by RICHEIIAND and 

 others, that " the increase of vital energy to an 

 injured part" indicates " the existence of a pre- 

 serving principle, incessantly watching over the 

 harmony of the functions." * 



This idea seems very correct and beautiful 

 when superficially examined, or rather when not 

 examined at all ; but if we take into considera- 

 tion, that he here alludes to the blood flowing 

 to a part which is wounded by the prick of a 

 thorn, it is not difficult to bring forward a thou- 

 sand instances where such a flowing was the 

 cause of great inflammation, suppuration, and 

 death. Indeed, when such cases occur, it is not 

 our object to Increase, but to diminish the deter- 

 mination ; and if the vital principle were inces- 

 santly watching over the harmony of the func- 

 tions, how does it happen that it destroys its 

 own existence by allowing congestions or inflam- 

 mations to take place ? It may probably be as- 

 serted, that it is too weak to resist the influence 

 of powerful agents ; therefore it must be allowed 

 to be serviceable only when its contributions are 

 not particularly required. 



CCCCLIII. In the preceding pages I have 

 alluded to and explained many states of the 

 system that have been regarded by the most 

 distinguished physiologists as inexplicable, ex- 



* Trans, ut supra, p. 48. 



