; in Fluids. 365 



Are not the livid spots on the surface of the body, 

 which indicate a beginning of mortification, produced in 

 consequence of a separation or precipitation of the heter- 

 ogeneous particles of the animal Fluids, according to 

 their specific gravities and individual temperatures, oc- 

 casioned by rest or an interruption of circulation ? And 

 may we not emphatically pronounce such Fluids to be 

 dead ? 



Would not any liquid in which Heat were equally dis- 

 tributed be a fatal poison if injected into the veins of a 

 living animal ? And would not this be the case even 



o 



were the liquid so injected a portion of the animal's own 

 blood, or of the lymph or any other of its component 

 parts, and were it at the mean temperature precisely of 

 the healthy Fluids circulating in the veins and arteries 

 of the animal ? 



Is not glandular secretion a true precipitation ? and is 

 it not possible that the formation of the solids and the 

 growth of an animal body may be effected by a process 

 exactly similar to congelation ? And are there not even 

 circumstances from which we might conclude, with a 

 considerable degree of probability, that most of these 

 congelations are formed at or about the temperature of 

 boiling water? 



But I forbear to enlarge on this subject. I find I have 

 unawares entered a province, where, if I advance farther, 

 I shall certainly be exposed to the danger of being con- 

 sidered and treated as an intruder ; and I must hasten to 

 make my retreat, which I shall endeavour to effect by 

 abruptly putting an end to this Chapter. 



