446 FANCIED FUNCTIONS OF 



ence by the division of the nerves of an organ must affect it; and 

 the more readily shall we believe this, when we consider that the 

 nerves are so minutely and universally distributed throughout 

 each organ. But the dependence of all parts for their vital pro- 

 perties upon nerves is a very different matter, and appears to 

 me far from having been proved or even rendered probable. If 

 the vitality or irritability, &c. of all parts is given by the nerves, 

 what gives it to the nerves ? If one mass of matter can become 

 by combination and organisation and suitable circumstances en- 

 dowed directly with it, why cannot another ? To suppose nerves 

 indispensable to vitality is to ascribe to nature circuitous and 

 complicated means when unnecessary. The action of voluntary 

 nerves is merely to excite the irritable muscular fibre ; the oper- 

 ation of nerves of sensation is not to endow the constituent parts 

 of organs with sensibility, but to be present in the organs, and 

 with their sensibility feel impressions made upon them. But this 

 hypothesis does not make^the nerves excite, as in the former case, 

 nor be the residence of the peculiar properties of the part, as in 

 the latter. It makes the nerves give powers of contraction, se- 

 cretion, &c. none of which they themselves possess. When per- 

 sons suppose vitality to be given by nerves, they do not suppose 

 the nerves to be the organ, but to communicate to the constituent 

 parts properties which they themselves or their system have en- 

 gendered, and which properties they themselves do not possess, 

 except that they have vitality in common with all parts. If all 

 organs were nerves, I could understand how nerves might be de- 

 clared necessary to all parts for their vitality : but, as nerves are 

 not supposed to perform the functions of the organ, I cannot see 

 why the organ should not by its composition and organisation be 

 sufficient, without another composition and organisation to give it 

 the powers it possesses : and besides, there are the facts re- 

 specting vegetables, nerveless foetuses, and clots of blood, already 

 mentioned, which show that vital properties may exist without 

 nerves. The various specific properties of the various parts of 

 the system are totally different from those of the encephalon, 

 spinal chord, ganglia, and nerves, and must depend upon the 

 specific composition and organisation of each part, or each part 

 would not require and have a specific composition and organis- 

 ation. If a part runs to another and pervades this, as in 

 the case of the nerves of sensation, that part, having its own 

 properties wheresoever it goes, will have them in the part 



