4 LECTURE I. 



none in an equal degree with Mr. Hunter. 

 Whoever attentively peruses his writings, 

 must, I think, perceive that he draws his 

 crowds of facts from such different and re- 

 mote sources, as to make it extremely 

 difficult to assemble and arrange them. 



I am the more particularly induced to 

 follow Mr. Hunter through the separate 

 examination of the principal vital functions, 

 because I know his notions of life were de- 

 duced from considering them severally and 

 conjointly. I hope therefore to be able, by 

 such an examination, to convince you of 

 the truth of his opinions on that subject ; 

 for I hear there are some who still say they 

 think them either unintelligible, or inad- 

 missible. If these opinions be not under- 

 stood, his works, I am persuaded, will 

 remain obscure. They seem to me like 

 writings in a cypher; his notions of life 

 forming the only key by which they can be 

 intelligibly read. Yet, to examine the vital 

 processes, as Mr. Hunter has done, it is ne- 

 cessary to refer to the facts contained in his 

 Museum ; and to commemorate his labours 



