LIFE AS COMPARED WITH THE PHYSICAL FORCKS. 47 



(3) Surgeon-Colonel S. Smith, R.E, writes* : — 



In commenting upon the subject matter of this impoi'tant pnper, 

 let me premise my remarks by declaring that I am, at the very 

 outset, at variance with the author of this po,per in his view o? the 

 special nature of vital force; and in his attempt to show that it 

 differs from force in the accepted sense of the term ; and I shall 

 venture to state my belief that vital force, or force so called in con- 

 nection with organic matter, is neither more nor less than fo reefer se. 



If I ask myself what force or energy really is : and inquire into 

 its origin, I am inevitably brought to the ultimate conclusion that 

 force is in itself the expression of the will of the Creator, existing 

 in all His works, inorganic and organic alike, and manifesting 

 itself in an endless variety of ways. 



Let us now consider the nature of vital force, and endeavour to 

 discover the difference, if any exists, between it and foi'ce jyer se ; 

 or, as we may call it, primary force : and in order to do this we 

 must compare the manifest effects of active vital fores with those 

 of force in action. 



Force, within and without the body, exists under two conditions 

 (a) a latent, (b) an active force. 



In the organic world it lies latent in the seed as germ life. 



In the inorganic world it lies latent as explosives, coiled springs, 

 elastic substance, etc., etc. 



Under altei^ed conditions, by the enei"gy of other accessory forces, 

 e.g., heat, moisture, endomosis, etc., the latent life force of the seed 

 becomes active, its manifest effects being those of assimilation and 

 growth; slow in some forms of vegetable life; wonderfully rapid 

 in others, as in the fungi. 



In the inorganic world under similar conditions as to accessory 

 forces, the latent fores becomes active : the resultant activity 

 being more rapidly manifest as to its effects, the dynamite explodes, 

 the released spring instantly uncoils, the elastic substance suddenly 

 resumes its original length and form. 



Here, owing to different conditions, the analogy ceases to hold 

 absolutely good ; for in the seed there is a constant accession of 

 force by pabulum, strengthening and increasing the vital force, 



* This able communication has been somewhat abbreviated owin^f to 

 its great leugtli ; but it might have formed in itself a separate paper for 

 a meeting of the Institute. — Ed. 



