PRINCIPLE

n. Prisns'io-p'l. Gr., ipxn. Lat., principium. Fr., principe. Ger.. Pnncip, Prinzip. 1. A general truth; a general or widely prevailing law. 2. An element or ultimate constituent, especially that one on which the distinctive characters of anything depend, [a, 48.] Active p. That p. in any substance to which its characteristic energy is due. [a, 48.] Astringent p. An old name for gallic acid. [B, 86, 91.] Digestive p. See PEPSIN. Proximate p's. fr.,principe sim med i ats. Those constituents of an organic body whii'h are themselves susceptible of decomposition into simpler p's, and are the first to be set free in an analysis of the body. Vital p. Lat., aura vitulis. Fr., flam me vitale. Ger., Lebens fun ken. Life; the unknown force which animates organized bodies. [K.] [s. 332]