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What does the word life mean?

• The state that distinguishes organisms from inorganic matter, manifested by growth, metabolism, reproduction, and adaptation. It includes the course of existence, the sum of experiences, the mode of existing, or the fact of being. Over the centuries inquiries into the nature of life have crossed the boundaries from philosophy to biology, forensic medicine, anthropology, etc., in creative as well as scientific literature. ( Random House Unabridged Dictionary, 2d ed; Dr. James H. Cassedy, NLM History of Medicine Division)

• The state in which an organized being exhibits some or all of its characteristic properties; the state in which an organism and its separate parts through their own inherent qualities perform assimilation and dis-assimilation, grow and decay. L. which is confined in its manifestations to the performance simply of those acts which are requisite for the maintenance of the existence of the individual and for the propagation of the species –namely, the acts of ingestion, digestion, assimilation, secretion, excretion, mechanical reflex action, and reproduction–is called Vegetative; which in addition comprises the employment of the senses, with locomotion and other spontaneous movements, is called Animal; while l. in which the reason, feelings, and conscious exercise of the will are called into play is called Mental( Psychic or Intellectual). The Feel l. is to feel the fetal movements.

• The state of organized beiugs, during which, owing to the union of an unknown force with matter, they are capable of performing functions different from those that regulate other natural bodies; all of which functions, however numerous and diversified, work to one end. Life has only a limited duration; beyond which, -the organic functions ceasing to be executed, -the body is given up to the agency of chemical affinity. Hence Bichat has defined life to be- the aggregate of the functions which resist death. On account of the difference that exists among the vital functions, he applied the term Organic Life to the functions inservient to composition and decomposition ;-as digestion, respiration, circulation, calorification, absorption, secretion, and nutrition; and Animal Life, to the functions which connect man and animals with external bodies; as the understanding, sensations, locomotion and voice.

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