CHAPTER I. Page Division of Life into Animal and Organic Life 11
General Differences of the two Lives, with regard to the outward form of their respective Organs 18
General Differences of the two Lives, with regard to the mode of action of their respective Organs 25
General Differences of the two Lives with respect to Duration of Action 40
General Differences of the two Lives with respect to Habit 46
General Differences of the two Lives with respect to Mental Affection 54
General Differences of the two Lives with respect to Vital Power 76
Of the Origin and Development of the Animal Life 132
Of the Origin and Development of the Organic Life 156
Of the Natural Termination of the Two Lives 163
CHAPTER I. Page General Considerations on Death 173
Of the Influence of the Death of the Heart over that of the Brain 176
Of the Influence of the Death of the Heart over that of the Lungs 192
Of the Influence of the Death of the Heart over that of all the Organs 194
Of the Influence of the Death of the Heart, as to the production of General Death 202
Of the Influence of the Death of the Lungs over that of the Heart 210
Of the Influence of the Death of the Lungs over that of the Brain 237
Of the Influence of the Death of the Lungs over that of the Organs in general 252
Of the Influence of the Death of the Lungs over the General Death of the Body 276
Of the Influence of the Death of the Brain over that of the Lungs 297
Of the Influence of the Death of the Brain over that of the Heart 305
Of the Influence of the Death of the Brain over that of all the Organs 318
Of the Influence of the Death of the Brain over that of the Body in General 332
The definition of life is usually sought for in abstract considerations; it will be found, if I mistake not, in the following general expression:--Life consists in the sum of the functions, by which death is resisted.[2]
In living bodies, such in fact is the mode of existence, that whatever surrounds them, tends to their destruction. They are influenced incessantly by inorganic bodies; they exercise themselves, the one upon the other, as constant an action; under such circumstances they could not long subsist, were they not possessed in themselves of a permanent principle of reaction. This principle is that of life; unknown in its nature, it can be only appreciated by its phenomena: an habitual alternation of action and reaction between exterior bodies, and the living body, an alternation, of which the proportions vary according to the age of the latter, is the most general of these phenomena.