A N D D E A T H. 493 



and every alluring circumftance inftantly dif- 

 appear. 



If this dodrine, concerning the gradual and 

 generally infenfible decay of the vital powers, 

 required any farther fupport, no inconfiderable 

 aid might be derived to it from the unccriainty 

 of the figns of death. If v^e confult the writers 

 on this fubjett, and particularly thofe of Winflow 

 and Bruhier, we ihall receive full conviction, 

 that, between life and death, the iliade is often 

 fo undiftinguifhable, as to elude all the powers 

 of the medical art. They inform us, 'That the co- 



* lour of the face, the heat of the body, the fup- 



* plenefs of the joints, are uncertain marks of 

 ' life; and that the palenefs of the countenance, 

 ' the coldnefs of the body, the rigidity of the 

 ' extremities, the ceiTation of motion, and the 

 ' abolition of thelenfes, are very equivocal figns 



* of death.* The fame remark may be made 

 with regard to the apparent cefTation of the pulfe, 

 and of refpiration : Thefe motions are often fo 

 flow, that they elude all our perceptions. A 

 mirror or a candle is applied near the mouth of 

 a fick man ; if the mirror be fullied, or the flame 

 vibrates, life is concluded not to be extinguilhed. 

 But thefe elTcds arc often produced, after death 

 has adually taken place ; and fomelimcs they 

 .appear not, though the patient be ftill alive. 

 When we wilh to be certain of the death of any 

 perfon, we apply fumes of tobacco, and other 

 irritating bodies, to the nolh-ils ; we endeavour 



to 



