IN THE ANIMAL ORGANISM. 199 



ent on a certain luminiferous matter, or ether, which 

 has no further connexion with the laws ascertained by 

 investigation. 



Considered under this form, the vital force unites in 

 its manifestations all the peculiarities of chemical forces, 

 and of the not less wonderful cause, which we regard 

 as the ultimate origin of electrical phenomena. 



The vital force does not act, like the force of gravi- 

 tation or the magnetic force, at infinite distances, but, 

 like chemical forces, it is active only in the case of im- 

 mediate contact. It becomes sensible by means of an 

 aggregation of material particles. 



A living part acquires, on the above supposition, the 

 capacity of offering and of overcoming resistance, by 

 the combination of its elementary particles in a certain 

 form ; and as long as its form and composition are not 

 destroyed by opposing forces, it must retain its energy 

 uninterrupted and unimpaired. 



When, by the act of manifestation of this energy in 

 a living part, the elements of the food are made to 

 unite in the same form and structure as the living organ 

 possesses, then these elements acquire the same powers. 

 By this combination, the vital force inherent in them is 

 enabled to manifest itself freely, and may be applied in 

 the same way as that of the previously existing tissue. 



If, now, we bear in mind, that all matters which 

 serve as food to living organisms are compounds of two 

 or more elements, which are kept together by certain 

 chemical forces ; if we reflect that in the act of mani- 



