26 LECTURE I. 



when it has recently taken place. The 

 force required to effect this, gradually di- 

 minishes till the muscles become quite 

 pliant ; and then, and not till then, does 

 putrefaction ensue. 



Mr. Hunter has known this last vital 

 contraction to occur in parts severed from 

 the body sixty hours after their separation, 

 upon the removal of causes which had im- 

 peded the contraction before that period; 

 a proof that life in a certain degree was 

 still resident in the part. He observed 

 that death produced by lightning, or large 

 charges of electricity, or by certain kinds 

 of injuries and diseases, prevented this con- 

 traction, and even the coagulation of the 

 blood ; and that putrefaction would in such 

 cases very rapidly take place. From facts 

 of this kind, as well as from many others, 

 he drew an inference, which has not I be- 

 lieve been disputed, and therefore I need 

 not enter into the discussion of it at length, 

 that the principle of life may in some in- 

 stances be suddenly removed, or have its 



