m 



that which Mr. Hunter entertained respect- 

 ing this subject. I have further contended, 

 that though such vital principle or prin- 

 ciples may reasonably be considered ade- 

 quate to produce the phaenomena of life in 

 general *, viz. the prevention of putrefac- 

 tion, the regulation of temperature, the 

 formation of new chemical combinations, 

 and various kinds of vital actions in the 

 substances in which such principle or prin- 

 ciples may inhere ; thus, in the nervous 

 system, transmitting actions to and from 

 the brain, exciting sensation and commu- 

 nicating volition, and also actions produc- 

 tive of sympathy between remote parts of 

 the body ; yet no such principle can be 

 supposed to produce sensation, for it is 

 impossible to suppose that sensation can 



* Vide fii'st two Introductory Lectures; and First 

 Lecture of the year 1817. 



