394 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



science is even yet in its infancy; but if, thus im- 

 perfect in its analysis, it is capable of proving the 

 general efficiency or superiority of oxygen, we 

 may probably be allowed to anticipate that, at 

 some future period, it will demonstrate the cor- 

 rectness of opinions, at present little better than 

 conjectures, which, however, are occasionally of 

 great utility towards the promotion of science. 



CCCCLXIX. Arterial blood is rendered as 

 dark as venous by the application of galvanism. 

 If coagulated, on the employment of this agent 

 it becomes fluid, and never again assumes the 

 same condition. Individuals are occasionally 

 killed by lightning, and in such the blood is 

 found in a fluid state. It is not improbable that 

 galvanism and lightning are of the same nature : 

 their influence on the animal economy presents 

 the same phenomena. These agents are said to 

 destroy the vitality of the blood ; and if it be 

 supposed to be the result of oxygen and its va- 

 rious combinations, no opinion is better support- 

 ed by experiments. There is scarcely a substance 

 in Nature but what is almost immediately de 

 composed by the application of a strong galvanic 

 power. We know that chemical combinations ex- 

 ist in the blood ; and we still further know, that 

 such are separated without the body into their 

 different elements by the influence of the galva- 

 nic aura. Therefore, if the blood be considered 



