246 LECTURE Vr. 



truth of Mr. Hunter's opinions respecting 

 secretion was given by himself, and at a 

 time when these subjects were involved in 

 darkness, by showing the effects resulting 

 from the application of morbific animal 

 poisons. 



From observation and analogy, Mr. Hun- 

 ter was induced to believe, that the coagu- 

 lation of the blood was an effect resulting 

 from the vital principle, and similar to that 

 contraction which takes place in muscles, 

 after the cessation of the ordinary functions 

 of life. He mentions that in animals killed 

 by lightning, or large charges of electricity, 

 in those which have been hunted to death, 

 or destroyed by violent blows on the sto- 

 mach, he had observed that the blood 

 did not coagulate, neither did the muscles 

 become rigid. 



That the powers of life inhere in any 

 distinct substance which makes no part of 

 the visible structure of the body, may in- 

 deed, in every instance, be doubted, but if 

 this be conceded, the consideration of the 



