IN THE ANIMAL ORGANISM. 211 



The chemical force which kept the elements to- 

 gether acted as a resistance, which was overcome 

 by the active vital force. 



Had both forces been equal, no kind of sensible 

 effect would have ensued. Had the chemical force 

 been the stronger, the living part would have under- 

 gone a change. 



If we now suppose that a certain amount of vital 

 force must have been expended in bringing to an 

 equilibrium the chemical force, there must still re- 

 main an excess of force, by which the decompo- 

 sition was effected. This excess constitutes the 

 momentum of force in the living part, by means of 

 which the change was produced ; by means of this 

 excess the part acquires a permanent power of 

 causing further decompositions, and of retaining its 

 condition, form, and structure, in opposition to ex- 

 ternal agencies. 



We may imagine this excess to be removed, and 

 employed in some other form. This would not of 

 itself endanger the existence of the living part, 

 because the opposing forces would be left in equi- 

 librio ; but, by the removal of the excess of force, the 

 part would lose its capacity of growth, its power to 

 cause further decompositions, and its ability to re- 

 sist external causes of change. If, in this state of 

 equilibrium, oxygen (a chemical agent) should be 

 brought in contact with it, then there would be no 



301bs., he would be unable to raise the weight to the height men- 

 tioned. 



