OF NUTRITION; OR, WHY WE GROW. 37 



rent faculty, could subdue by a spontaneous operation 

 surrounding forces, and hold in subjugation all that 

 tended to its injury. And for a long while this view 

 was entertained. It is natural ; and until an exten- 

 sive knowledge of the physical laws had been attained, 

 it seemed to be necessary. All have heard of the 

 Vital Principle. This was the agent supposed to 

 reside in living things, and (either with conscious 

 design or unconsciously) to build up, model, main- 

 tain, and use the organic frame. 



This figment, however, has long been overthrown. 

 The labours of physiologists (among which those of 

 Dr. Carpenter hold an eminent place : see especially 

 his paper on the Correlation of the Physical and Vital 

 Forces in the Philosophical Transactions for 1850) 

 have revealed the proofs of a profounder harmony in 

 Nature. Life is strong, because it is dependent; 

 immortal, because it draws its being from a peren- 

 nial source. All things minister to it. The tender 

 organic frame needs no self-preserving power within, 

 because all the natural powers are its servants. The 

 earth and air and distant orbs of heaven feed it with 

 ceaseless care, and supply, with unfailing constancy, 



