On the Vitality of Matter. 65 



their own satisfaction, by some elaborate discoveries with the 

 microscope, that the elementary, organic, constituent parts 

 of animal and vegetable bodies, inherently and independent- 

 ly possess the vital principle ; that spirit of hfe, which has 

 hitherto been veiled in mystery. Edwards describes the ani- 

 mal body as " built of animalcules, as a pyramid is built of 

 bricks," being a congeries of countless milhons of organized 

 units, "each capable of living in a separate state, and perhaps 

 exercising the functions of individual life, while incorporated 

 in one being. He teaches that these monads or globules, be- 

 ing of the g^o'iio P^^^ of an inch in diameter, by one arrange- 

 ment form the various tissues and fibres of the animal struc- 

 ture ; and by another arrangement, spring up in the glowing 

 colours and varieties of vegetable life, and that when death 

 passes upon them, and decomposition separates the parts, 

 elements which were before parts of some animal, become 

 vegetables, or if it so may chance, vegetable atoms awake to 

 life as animals. 



These inferences rest on the following experiments. 



Dr. Edwards examined a piece of animal substance mace- 

 rated in water, and immediately perceived a ijumber of white 

 vesicles moving about with great rapidity. These he con- 

 sidered to be animalcules of the tribe monades. He observ- 

 ed that these monads lost all power of motion when the wa- 

 ter evaporated. " If water were added immediately after the 

 cessation of motion, they again began to move, but if allow- 

 ed to remain dry for a short time, they never recovered the 

 faculty of locomotion." He also observed, that " whenever 

 they adhered to the sides of the glass, they exhibited every 

 appearance of vegetable life."* 



The same experimenter macerated a leaf of the horse- 

 chesnut, and " as soon as the particles became detached 

 from the margin of the leaf, they were seen to put themselves 

 in motion ;" thus showing that when the tissue of plants is 

 decomposed in water, its component organic parts possess 

 independent life, and spontaneous motion. 



Another example, though not included in those mentioned 

 by Dr. Edwards, is still more surprising, as it would suggest 

 that the degree of heat w^hich destroys life in visible objects, 

 had the efflsct, while life was in its invisible state, to aid in 

 its development. " A potatoe was boiled in water until it 



Westminster Review, No. IS, Jan. 1827, 



