Prof. Henry on the Conservation of Force. 33 
combined and recombined by different processes in the labora- 
tory, and a great variety of new compounds artificially produced 
from them. 
But what is this vital principle, which thus transcends the 
sagacity of the chemist and produces groups of atoms of a com- 
plexity far exceeding his present skill? It is generally known 
under the name of the vital force; but since the compounds 
which are produced under its influence are subject to the same 
laws, though differing in complexity, as those produced by the 
ordinary chemical forces; and since in passing from an unstable 
to amore stable condition in the form of smaller groups, they ex- 
This view of the subject is absolutely necessary 1n carrying 
out the mechanical theory of the equivalency of heat and the 
orrelation of the ordinary physical forces. Among the latter, 
_" Fates no subjection to the laws by 
y C,,H,,0,,, making in all 34 atoms. Organic bodies are, 
therefore, in what may be called a state of power, or of tottering 
SECOND SERIES, Vor. XXX, No. 83.— JULY, 1860. 
5 
