218 ZOOLOGICAL PHILOSOPHY 



2. From the electric fluid, either the ordinary electric fluid in the 

 case of plants and imperfect animals, or the galvanic fluid for those 

 with very high organisation ; — a subtle fluid, moving with extra- 

 ordinary speed, which instigates sudden local dissipations of the caloric 

 which distends the parts, and thus excites acts of irritability in the 

 non-muscular organs, and movements in the muscles when it extends 

 its action to them. 



If the two fluids named above thus combine their special activities, 

 there must ensue in the case of organised bodies submitted to their 

 influence, a powerful cause or force which works eifectively, and is 

 controlled by the organisation, — that is, by the regular shape and 

 arrangement of the parts, — and keeps up movements and life so long 

 as there exists in these bodies an order of things which allows of such 

 ■effects. 



This apparently is the mode of action of the exciting cause of life ; 

 but it cannot be regarded as estabhshed, until it is possible to find 

 proofs of it. The two named fluids may be the only principles con- 

 tributing to the production of this cause ; but that again is a behef 

 of which we cannot be certain. What is quite positive in this respect 

 is that the source, from which nature derives this cause and the result- 

 ing force, is to be found in the subtle invisible fluids among which the 

 "two just named are unquestionably the chief. 



I shall confine myself to the statement that the active and expansive 

 fluids, composing the exciting cause of vital movements, penetrate 

 into or are constantly developing in the bodies which they animate, 

 pass all through them, while harmonising their movements with the 

 nature, order and arrangement of the parts, and are then constantly 

 being exhaled by an imperceptible transpiration. This fact is un- 

 questionable and sheds the brightest hght over the causes of lifeJ 



Let us now enquire into the special phenomenon that I call orgasm 

 in hving bodies, and afterwards into the irritabiUty which this orgasm 

 produces in animals, where the nature of their bodies permits it to be 

 highly developed. 



