[ '5' ] 



caufcs the accretion, and increafe of bulk and fize, 

 or by what mode of operation it derives princi- 

 ples from dead, inert, (linking, corrupted, and 

 impure fubftanccs, and converts them into parts 

 of living organized bodies, which charm the 

 fight, the fmell, and the tafte of animals, and fur- 

 oiih aliment for their comfortable fubfiftence, is 

 perhaps beyond the utmoft ftretch of human un- 

 derstanding to conceive. 



It is in every one's experience, that the excre- 

 ments, and corrupted fubftances of animals, when 

 properly digefted, are the mod powerful pro- 

 moters of vegetation; and plants fo produced 

 become the wholefome and necefTary fupport and 

 food of man: So that what was lad year a poi- 

 fonous, putrid mafs, is this, by the wonderful 

 chemiftry of nature, and a rapid circulation thro* 

 a fyftem of organized bodies, converted into a 

 fubftance endued with life, fenfation, &c. If that 

 fhould be doubted, they certainly are necefTary to 

 the fupport of life, fenfation, &c. And perhaps 

 it is not a jot more conceivable how a poifonous, 

 putrid fubftance fhould be converted into whol- 

 fome nourifhment for the fupport of living animal 

 fubftance, than it is for the former to be converted 

 into the latter; that is, a dead inert fubftance into 

 a living and active one. 



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