ADVERTISEMENT. THE Author has, in the following pages, abridged the matter of the different heads as far as could be done consistently with the Argument. In no part has this been more necessary than in that portion coming under the head of Pathology, in which the leading features only of Disease could be taken conformably with the design of this work. It is, however, his intention, at a future period, to treat of Disease in detached inquiries. 4, Albany Terrace, 1 CONTENTS. CHAP. I. p. 1 Life-its difficulties-must be met as other subjectsNo 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. Metaphysics.-On a faculty and an act-Illustration -Perceptibility is self-evident-Perceptibility and Sensibility not the same-The acts of Perception and Sensation simultaneous but not identical-Illustration-Faculties of retaining, discerning, comparing, compounding, and abstracting-Sameness of the intellectual principle-Faculty of Willing-Faculty of Passion and Affection-On the Anima or Soul -The word Animal an adjective-Soul and Mind have been confounded-Definite Ideas must be formed of the two terms-Definition of Mind-Our ordinary manner of speaking is consistent with this definition-On the formation of Mind-CharacterDefinition of Life. CHAP. III. Animal Sensibility-its modifications five-the organs of the five modifications-arteries and nerves essential to Sensibility—on the arteries—on the nervesconnecting observations - Proposition Facts in support-An essential preliminary considerationSum or force of a Sensation is determined by three circumstances enumerated-first circumstance considered-second circumstance considered-third circumstance considered-Conclusion concerning these three circumstances-Several animal phenomena explained-Conclusion. Assimilating organs-the uses of food-takingdecomposition of the body questioned-The preservative principle of flesh, or Mr. Hunter's vital principle may be exhausted-and again restoredWhat this principle is-Whence derived-Facts in support-On the required quantities of food-Conclusion. The Lungs-bring the blood into contact with the air -supposed object of this-questioned-and disproved -Animal heat-no fixed degree essential to lifethe degree of heat an adventitious circumstancesource of heat and use of the Lungs-argument in support-on media influencing the degree of heatFishes-Amphibia-Insects-Conclusion. Muscular motion-consists in the simple property of contracting-is dependent upon nervous agencyElectric fluid is capable of exciting muscles to con tract-Dr. Ure's experiment-Argument and facts in support of the identity of electric fluid and the Re-view of facts and proof of proposition-The simul- taneous existence and destruction of the physical pro- perties of living animals-A clear, intelligible, and Examination of the arguments in favour of Material- ism-M. Bichat's argument concerning organic and animal Sensibility-is sophistical-A physical no- tion of life has insuperable physical objections- The reasoning of Materialists upon cause and effect -is not sound-Contrary to the assertions of the Materialists, the Soul may be defined, is evidenced by the senses, and has palpable proof in its effects -The size of the Brain-gives no support to Mate- rialism-but is in direct opposition to it-The pro- bable use of the brain-Conclusion—is in accordance |