but even as opposed to them. The one preserve the body, the others tend to destroy it. They are always in conflict. Life is the victory of the one; death is the triumph of the other. Hence the celebrated definition given by Bichat: "Life is the sum total of functions which resist death," or the definition of the Encyclopædia: "Life is the contrary of death."
Cuvier has illustrated this conception by a graphic picture. He represents a young woman in all the health and strength of youth suddenly stricken by death. The sculptural forms collapse and show the angularities of the bones; the eyes so lately sparkling become dull; the flesh tint gives place to a livid pallor; the graceful suppleness of the body is now rigidity, "and it will not be long before more horrible changes ensue; the flesh becomes blue, green, black, one part flows away in putrid poison, and another part evaporates in infectious emanations. Finally, nothing is left but saline or earthy mineral principles, all the rest has vanished." Now, according to Cuvier, what has happened?
These alterations are the effect of external agents, air, humidity, and heat. They have acted on the corpse just as they used to act on the living being; but before death their assault had no effect, because it was repelled by the vital properties. Now that life has disappeared the assault is successful. We know now that external agents are not the cause of these disorders. They are caused by the microbes of putrefaction. It is against them that the organs were struggling, and not against physical forces.
The mistake made by Bichat and Cuvier was inexcusable, even in their day. They were wrong not to attach the importance they deserved to Lavoisier's
