34 LECTURE I. 



support. Doctor Macartney, who has of late 

 particularly attended to this subject, gives 

 it as his opinion, " that when fluids change 

 their composition, it is often by some vital 

 action in themselves, instead of a fermenta- 

 tive process, or the mechanical operation of 

 solids upon them, as is commonly sup- 

 posed."* Were irritability shewn to be an 

 electrical phaenomenon, and I consider it 

 already demonstrated that they are electri- 

 cal actions which cause the various combi- 

 nations and decompositions so constantly 

 occurring in all parts of living bodies, and 

 upon which their formation and functions 

 so greatly depend; yet the consideration 

 of the vital phaenomena proves that such 

 electrical operations are under the influ- 

 ence and control of the vital powers. I am 

 aware that there is an obscurity in my first 

 lectures, arising from my not explicitly de- 

 claring my sentiments ; which did not then 

 appear necessary, and even now may per- 

 haps be deemed presumptuous and impro- 

 per. In my opinion, experimental science 



* See article Incubation, in Dr- Rees's Encyclo- 

 paedia. 



