486 OF OLD A G E 



Though it be true, that the bad ftate of the 

 fluids proceeds from a depravity in the organiza- 

 tion of the Tolids; yet the effeds refulting from 

 a change in the fluids produce the moft alarm- 

 ing fymptoms, if they become fliagnant, or if 

 they be obftrudted in their circulation by the con- 

 tradion of the vefl'els ; if, by the relaxation of 

 the vefl^els, they extravafate, they mufl: loon cor- 

 rupt, and corrode the weaker parts of the folids. 

 In this manner the caufes of deftrudion perpe- 

 tually multiply ; our internal enemies grow more 

 and more powerful, and ri laft put a period to 

 our exiftence. 



All the caufes of decay which I have men- 

 tioned, ad continually upon the human body, 

 and gradually lead to its diflblution. Death, 

 which appears fo terrible to us, is the lafl: term 

 only in the feries of evils. Life begins to decay 

 long before it is entirely cxtinguiflied ; and the 

 changes are perhaps greater from youth till the 

 beginning of our decay, than from decrepitude 

 to death ; for we ought here to confider life as 

 a fubjed capable of augmentation and of dimi- 

 nution. When the foetus is firft formed, the 

 quantity of life is ahnofl equal to nothing ^ 

 It gradually extends and acquires confdlence 

 and force, in proportion to. the growth and ex- 

 panfion of the body. On the other hand, when 

 the body begins to decay, the quantity of life 

 diminiflies, till its final extindion. Thus life 



both 



