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tlie late researches of the German and French chemists as well es- 

 tablished truths, may extend the generalization so as to reduce all 

 mechanical motion on the surface of the earth to a source from 

 without. Thus, according to Liebig, Dumas and Boussingault, the 

 mechanical power exerted by animals is due to the passage of orga- 

 nized matter in the body from an unstable to a stable equilibrium; 

 and as this matter is derived in an unstable state from vegetables, 

 and the elements of these again from the atmosphere, it would there- 

 fore appear to follow, that animal power is referable to the same 

 sources as that from the combustion of fuel, namely, the original force 

 which separates the elements of the plants from their stable and ori- 

 ginal combination with the oxygen of the atmosphere. But what is 

 this power which furnishes the plant with the material of its growth? 

 Is it due to a constantly created vital power ; or, since its effects are 

 never directly exhibited but in the presence of light, may not the opi- 

 nion of many chemists of the present day be adopted, namely, that it 

 is due to the decomposing energy of the sun's rays, which are found 

 to exhibit a wonderful decomposing effect in cases where no vital phe- 

 nomena are present. 



If this hypothesis be adopted, it must be supposed, that vitality is 

 that mysterious principle which propagates a form and arranges the 

 atoms of organizable matter, while the power with which it operates, 

 as well as that developed by the burning fuel and the moving animal, 

 is a separate force, derived from the divellent power of the sunbeam. 

 It is true, that this is as yet little more than a mere hypothesis, and 

 as such forms no part of positive science, but it appears to be founded 

 on a clear physical analogy, and may therefore form the basis of de- 

 finite philosophical research. 



The remarks of Professor Henry gave rise to a discussion in 

 which Dr. Hare, Professor Henry and Dr. Meigs participated. 



Dr. Meigs animadverted on some observations of M. Colom- 

 bat de I'Isere on diseases of the Clitoris, and detailed a case of 

 excessive enlargement of the organ. 



The clitoris was injured by a fall fourteen years ago; since which 

 time it has been constantly increasing in size. The patient was mar- 

 ried eight years since, and has two children. The tumour was in- 

 dolent, and pendulous from the front of the os pubis ; and con- 

 sisted of skin and genito-urinary mucous tissue. It formed a 

 close-sac, filled with a fluctuating mass. Dr. George Norris, sur- 



