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Of Vegetation. 325 



more fubtile and refined principles of ve- 

 getables arc formed : For fo fine a fluid as 

 the air feems to be a more proper medium, 

 wherein to prepare and combine the more 

 exalted principle of vegetables, than thegrof- 

 fer watry fluid of the fap • and for the fame 

 reafon, 'tis likely, that the moil refined and 

 active principles of animals arc alfo prepared 

 in the air, and thence conveyed thro' the 

 lungs into the blood 3 and that there is plenty 

 of thefe fulphurco-acrcal particles in the 

 leaves, is evident from the fulphureous exu- 

 dations, which are found at the edges of 

 leaves, which Bees are obferved to make 

 their waxen cells of, as well as of the dud 



of flowers : And that wax abounds with ful- 

 phur is plain from its burning freely, &c. 



We may therefore reafonably conclude, 

 that one great ufe of leaves is what has 

 been long fufpe&ed by many, viz. to per- 

 form in fome meafure the fame office for 

 the fupport of the vegetable life, that the 

 lungs of animals do, for the fupport of the 

 animal life 5 Plants very probably drawing 

 thro' their leaves fomc part of their nou- 

 rifliment from the air. 



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