396 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC 



CCCCLXXII. Having generally investigated 

 the subject of vitality, we are now, in some 

 measure, better prepared to define it. The ar- 

 terial blood in the foetal germ is certainly pre- 

 sent before evident structural adaptations, ex- 

 cept vessels, are formed ; and, therefore, the 

 blood, or vital principle, may be said to precede 

 organization ; but it is, at the same time, the 

 result of organization, as it is derived from the 

 mother. The blood she distributes to this vital 

 nucleus is of the same kind as that which is 

 employed to secrete the gastric juice, bile, or 

 mucus. These different secretions cannot be 

 supposed to originate from different kinds of 

 blood, but must be referred to peculiar organic 

 adaptations proper to each organ, in the same 

 manner as the eye is fitted to the laws of light. 

 It forms no part of our inquiry to investigate 

 Iww the foetal system is developed. We do not 

 know the laws by which a crystal is formed, 

 which appears a much simpler phenomenon. 

 It is our province to examine the circum- 

 stances which are closely connected with the ob- 

 ject we cultivate. From having pursued this 

 plan, I am disposed to attribute vitality, or the 

 principle by means of which the system is gra- 

 dually formed and supported throughout exist- 

 ence, to qualities of or combinations existing in the 

 blood. It has also been seen, in the preceding 

 pages, that these qualities or combinations have 



