CHAP. X. p. 133 DISQUISITION, &c. CHAPTER I. Life-its difficulties-must be met as other subjects— No rationale of Life hitherto formed-hence the little use of our physiological facts-Extract from Mr. Lawrence-Extract from Sir Charles Morgan -Interest and consequence of Inquiry up to this period-General opinions on the subject may be divided into three classes-First class-Second class -Third class-These opinions considered relatively -Dilemma of the present state of knowledgeThe Inquiry must be simple and the language perspicuous-Natural order of Inquiry. IN affixing a title to the following Treatise I have endeavoured to make this what the title of every book ought to be, an index to its contents. Nevertheless, a word or two upon the matter by way of introduction, may be here, without any unnecessary waste of time, well and usefully applied. The inquiries hitherto instituted by philosophers, whether anatomists, physiologists, chemists, naturalists, B or metaphysicians, although highly creditable to their industry and research, and essentially useful in commencing and forwarding the investigation of this matter, have not been sufficiently general or enlarged, to lead to that extended and uniform comprehension of the subject which constitutes a science. Their individual inquiries having been partial, and directed only to the attainment of knowledge concerning some particular organ or function connected with life, to the habits or forms of animals, to the physical and chemical laws of matter, or to the discussion of some dogma connected with existence; their detached portions of inquiry have been properly termed, anatomical, experimental, metaphysical, and natural inquiries, examinations, histories, or descriptions of animals. But in a Disquisition, may be embraced the whole range of investigation, which reason with all her powers, aided by the experiments and observations of other men, can grasp concerning the subject; and upon that account I have used this term. Life or animal being, how imperfectly soever it may be understood, is that state of existence which man possesses in common with his fellow-inhabitants of this world of matter. It is essentially the same in all, but being much varied in form, and being also supported in every instance by a complication of functions, and the functions being varied in different animals, as well from their situation as from their size and form, these circumstances have rendered the subject so difficult to be understood, that many, and indeed most, men, have considered it an impenetrable mystery; and the superstitious fears of the multitude are ever ready to consider impious, any attempts to search into this, as they suppose, guarded secret. To investigate the nature of this being, is the province of a peculiar science; which, however much it may be aided by other kinds of knowledge, must always remain a distinct species of art. Nevertheless, the same principles which direct the investigation of other subjects, will be used here, and the result of the inquiry must be scrutinized with the same suspicion, and submitted to the same severe tests of truth. all complicated subjects, in order to be understood, it must be considered in its several parts; and hence an analytic inquiry into the properties of a living animal is the best, if not the only rational method, of acquiring a knowledge of life; and the degree of success in this pursuit, will be found to depend upon the nicety of analysis. Like Although great advances have of late years been made in animal chemistry, and in ascertaining the functions of particular organs, and in tracing their influence in living bodies, yet there has not hitherto appeared anything like a rational explanation of animal existence written works, professedly physiological, being little more than the enumeration of the partial inquiries of others, with a few unsuccessful attempts at establishing general principles. And the constant subject of complaint, expressed and felt by inquiring men, is the obscurity and mystery which accompanies life, when considered in the whole, however clearly and intelligibly it may appear to have been demonstrated and perceived in its several parts. 66 This apparent comprehension of life in its parts, and its hidden nature when considered in the whole, is much to be regretted, since it is in the conjunction of truths which preserve the genuine tendency, and secure the efficacy of each," and not in the simple knowledge of a few isolated facts, that we must seek for intellectual satisfaction, or for practical and extensive usefulness. It has been wisely observed by a celebrated |