316 Researches in the Theory and Calculus of Operations. 



"When the atoms a and a' encounter, there is of course a 

 reverse reaction of each force through the respective dia- 

 meters of the spheres to o and o', where, meeting no new 

 medial force, these atoms are left to equilibrate themselves, 

 and thus detach in the form of secretions, excretions, or 

 other exuvise. 



In the completed animal system, the machine must feed 

 itself, and therefore must be provided with powers and 

 means to accomplish that object. The simplest form of 

 organism requires at least two organs; one to collect, and 

 another to digest the food which is to sustain the vital pro- 

 cess. The vegetative trajectory consists of a single general 

 circuit, from the earth to the atmosphere and return, the 

 ports of entry and departure, the anode and cathode of the 

 traversing forces. But in all except the very lower forms of 

 animal life, and where the boundaries of animal and vege- 

 tal are indistinguishable, not less than two general circuits 

 are required. The first is composed of the digestive organs, 

 the stomach and bowels (analogue of the galvanic jar), 

 which forward the concocted substantial force in the liquid 

 form of chyle, through the lacteal tubes (conductors), to the 

 receiver, the left division of heart (analogue of the leyden 

 jar), which pulsatively discharges and distributes the same, 

 mixed with the blood returned from the lungs, to all parts, 

 of course including the digestive organs whence it started, 

 for the renovation of the expenditure of the system : this is 

 the first general circuit. At the spheriform bounds of this 

 distribution, the nutrient sanguiferous fluid parts with such 

 of its elements as suit with the affinities of each particular 

 organ, and the remainder is taken up by the veins and lym- 

 phatic vessels and carried to the right division of the 

 double heart of the mammalian, whence it is pulsatively 

 propelled to the lungs, there to meet the atmospheric ele- 

 ments, and exchange its rejected carbon for the superfluous 

 oxygen eliminated by its vegetal neighbor : thus qualified, 



