DEATH 
nation we difinguith aah; ift, from all thofe condi- 
tions of the body in which any particular funGion or func- 
tions are deftroyed, while the reft remain in a more or lefs 
: adly, from fujpended aries in whic 
reftored 
an 
te) 
fo) 
“t 
er 
fo] 
an 
= 
wo) 
2.8 
B. 3 
fou 
ativity within tim 
gdly, from putrcfadion, w shich denotes the an canes 
taking place in the conitituent ingredients of the dead body. 
iving bodies are particularly diftinguifhed from inorga- 
nic matter by t de in whi eir exiftence is termi- 
ated ; and h termination by death becomes one of the 
grand Paani wad ot Life vation of an inorganiz- 
ed fubftance is dependent merely on the kind of compofition 
whic denne its phy fical folidity ; hence it muft be efti- 
‘mated from the and cohefion of each body, and muft 
nent parts. living machines, o ontrary, the 
term of exiftence is neceflarily confined, and is not at all in- 
fluenced by their compofition or fize r many large and 
) laft others much weaker 
There are alfo relations of fize between living t 
an ganic bodies totally at variance with thofe of their 
eeteeee duration, fince in many inftances particles of ex- 
treme {mallnefs are seme more durable than the moft 
bulky animals or vegetables 
The duration of inorganic bodies muft always be igfu- 
enced by the media in which they exift, and by the agents 
which {urround them; but living beings are governed by 
very different laws. Their exiftence is not lim oaras ee the 
natural coriuptibility of their t elements, but is pro- 
tracted, although; by the nature of their formation, hey tend 
rapidly to diffolution, to a much longer period than that 
tendency would have led us to expe&t. Liable, by their as 
effence, to decay and decompofition, they laft mach lon 
than they would have done, had their duration been de aa 
mined by the properties of their elements. It is prolonged 
ich there 1s nothing 
pofleffes an excefs of life, fince the re-action 
n3; they are nearly in a ftate of equilibrium i in the adult. 
The re-aétion of the mternal principle diminifhes aes age, 
the 
Portion has ceale 
eath ae is the laieew — to which all bodies, 
ner or later be reduced. The 
ever prolonge 
cumitances that Sroingie bodily hele and Gack, mult at 
laft arrive at its term, It has convinced at) reflecting and 
reafoning mind, eu — cannot poflibly be any means © of 
employed the time, and bewildered the minds of the human 
Natural death is remarkable on this account, viz. 
that the funGions of animal life, or thofe which conne& 
the individual with the external world, confifling of fen- 
fation, motion, and fpeech, ceafe long before the functions of 
organic life, or thofe by whic iftence is maintained, 
as refpiration, digeftion ’ oman. circulation, fecretion. 
ies at the conclufion of a1 advanced age 
expires in detail. His external funGions gradually ceafe ; 
the fenfes are loft in fucceffion, the or dinary ftimuli no longer 
8 is fi 
the fituation of its a ae it wh the Scien ic as aa 
as the anima n every agreeable fenfation is 
s and the 
mory 2 
ened, and almoft dead, tranfimit them imperfectly to the brain. 
nefs. Hence the old man judges only according to the fen- 
fations which he has experienced heretofore ; while the child 
is influenced folely by his prefent elings ; and the judgment’ 
in either cafe muft be equ ually uncertal 
As the interruption of the fun ae of the brain is a 
tions of the old m 
he quits his accuftomed dade Ge aed near the fire, which 
affords an agreeable fource of warmth to his languid frame, 
he paffes whole days retired, in a manner, within himfelf, 
Uninterefted in what furrounds him, a ftranger to defires, 
paffions, ay fenfations; {peaking tide, becaufe as no 
inducement o fuch exertion, he is happy to cat he ftill 
organs, as ano. 
power of motion ae 
latter, therefore, do not Y ote the power, but the eau/e which 
fhould bring that into action, viz. the influence of the brain, 
If it were poffible to unite in the fame perfon the brain and 
fenfitive organs of the old man with the mufcles of a youth, 
the voluntary motions would not be more energetic than in 
the old fubject, becaufe there would flili be wanting a caufe 
to excite tie power into action. 
From the preceding view, it appears that the external func. 
tions are graduall extinguifhed in the old man ; and that the 
animal life is almoft annihilated, whilft the organi¢ fill retains 
its activity. At this time, the flate of the man who is about 
te 
