Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1859-01-11

conclude this sketch with own views.
AEIsTorLE assumed the existence of certain
animating principles (PsyehafJ as the cause OF
orsanz;t, ION and life. he supposed these prin-
ciples to differ according to the organism formed
by them, all acting, how ever, under the direc
tion of enc supreme animatiug principle , that
all varieties of the really depend upon GER
tain original differences of the other; and that
every distinct species of bodies would necessari-
ly have us peculiar animating principle
This hypothesis, while it eyinces profound
thought at the same time she US the utter fulfil
lily of abstract speculation alone, TO solve the
problems Of Natural Science for reasoning
without facts for data, avails nothing
DIsn,isSing this hypothesis, select that Of
fercd 10y the ilIustrious HARVEY, who exenpliiied
in his discovery of the circulation of the blood
the utility of l"gic in scientific inquiries, and
iiulaorlaized his name by the application Of
logic to facts discovered by others. His theory
of life is similar to the preceding, for he
sunes the existence of an animating principle,
not unlike the psyclee of the schoolmen; but he
located that principle in the blood, which lie
considered the immediate cause Of motion pull
s7tiun, animal heat, the vital spirit, and even
the principle of life itself; thus illustrating our
liability 10 give undue Prominence to those facts
with which may be specially eonversant.
The celebrated JOHN HUNTER promulgated q
doctrine not dissimilar to the foregoing, which
was pretty generally received ~ British phys
lologisfs He looked to a D,ateria rit4e, ma
terial OF life diffused throughout the solids and
fluids OF the body, as the cause of life or vital
phenomenal and the eccentric ABERyETHY III
adopting HUNTERS views and commenting upon
them defines the Dsdteria uttGe to be an extreme
" subtle essence or substance, in nature very
like electricl.y,) which Is superadded TO all iv-
ing organized bodies.
The German psychologist, MULLER, assumes
the existence of an organic force in the germ,
which force he considers adequate to produce
out Of organic matter prepared fo- it, not only
The individual organs necessary to organisms,
but also the individuals themselves. He saws
' This rational active force is exerted in every
animal strictly in accordance with what the ma
turc of each requires; ii exists already in the
germ and creates il it the essential parts of the
future animal"
Dir. PEoUT, eminent both as a chemist and
scholar, and author of one of the Bridgewater
Treatises, advocates the doctrine of organic
agents, doctrine not unlike that of an organic
three. lie says =" Ia all eases this organic
agent must be considered an ultimate priuci-
pie, endowed by the Creator with faculty lit
tie short Of Intelligence by means of which it is
enabled to construct such a mechanism from
natural elements, and by the and of natural agcn-
on.
advantage Of their properties, and of making
them subscrvient to lis use"
Although differing somewhat in detail, these
several hypothesis, it'll the exception of HrS-
rEE = all agree in this they each recognize the
existence of controlling Entity in all living
bodies, which superintends, it were, every
act OF organization and life The psycho of AR
isrorIE the animating principle of HARVEY;
the organic force of MULLER and DR.. PEoUT's
organic agent; but they seyerallv fail 10 explain
by what mode mechanism their controlling
Entity acts, and by what means we may deter
mine the laws OF lis existence and action-In
short, they dssane the existence of peculiar
Entity, without showing any good grounds for
the adoption of their assumption
Rejecting these doctrines, in obedience to one
Of the fundamental laws OF philosophy, which
prohibits our assuming unknown causes for the
explanation of phenomena that may be satisfac-
toTlly accounted for on welI-knowu principles,
we again meet the question, W hat is Lite
IT, as already intimated. Life he not an Entitg,
then what is it? We understand by The term
merely the conditions Of certain existeuces but
Of Life separate from organization, and as :,
( thing PEI Sc, VIC know absolutely nothing
! for life ana organization are cosnate facts.
and we never observe the phenomena Of
! Life apart from organization and the physical
! forces Of light, heat and chemical affinity: and
yet, We cannot now say that Life is either the
cause or the result OF organization
I All living organisms, both animal and vcce-
table, POSSESS all the essentials Of our conception
/ OF Life each has definite form i composed
( of definite parts or orgaus adapted to certain
ends. and Is capable of performing the necessa-
ry functions incident To that ;icular s. ccies
each ger inmates lives, grows and dies in lis own
3 focelar way and that which constitutes each
a living being Is essentially the same for all
The term Lie, then. oolnprehcads complex
TACT. VIZ thas certain aggregatjous of matter.
Which We term organic, being united in a pecu-
liar manner, called organized. and adapted To
CERTAIN ends, exhibit, il conjunction with the
ply steal forces, certain actions functions. or pho
nonteoa. which being exhibited ontv bv Iivin,,
beings We call the phenomena OF Life: and the
manifestation OF these phenomena. or The now
er oi nanltcsting them. Is Life itself.
MINERAL PoINr. Dec y. 1855.
MESS'eS- Eplross The cry of Hard Times j.
ueaLd al over mn hna--tir.I en.,u...-- IL