CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



INTRODUCTION ..... . xi 



CHAPTER I. 

 OF FUNCTION ; OK, How WE ACT. 



Disappointment apt to attend the Study of Life Its Causes 

 Absence of definite Principles Animal Activity 

 Meaning of the Term "Function" Illustrations The 

 Idea of Tension The Living Body contains Force And 

 gives it off in Decay In this like a Machine Its Force 

 stored up by Resistance to Chemical Affinity Similar 

 Instances in Nature "Stimuli," what they are The 

 Ground of previous False Ideas Illustrations The Body 

 at the same time Nourished and Decaying Applications : 

 To the Nervous Force; to Hearing; to Sight; to Muscular 

 Action Apparent Objections General Result Simplifi- 

 cation of View of Living Body, and of Vital Force . . 1 



CHAPTER H. 

 OP NUTRITION ; OR, WHY WE GROW. 



Life constantly ceasing is constantly renewed Its apparent 

 Independence Real Dependence The " Vital Principle " 

 How overthrown Necessity of distinguishing various 

 Elements in Life What is Nutrition ? Illustration In- 

 duction of Facts Nutrition dependent on Decay The 

 Springs of a Watch The Force transferred The Idea of 

 Vibration Life an Action produced by its opposite This 

 View originally expressed by Dr. Freke Tested by Fer- 

 mentationThe Growth of Yeast Parallels in the Living 

 Body The Order thus made visible in Vital Phenomena- 

 Illustration by a Fountain Necessity of regarding what 

 is not seen Special Character of Life .... 35 



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