ECONOMIC USES OF ANIMALS. 181 
the properties of animals, which should here claim 
our attention; for although it is disconnected with 
abstract science, and is not essential to the discovery 
of general principles, it is yet highly interesting to 
the bulk of mankind, because it concerns their 
individual interests. We allude to such properties 
of animals as are hurtful or beneficial to man; 
which are to be counteracted from being pernicious, 
or turned to our advantage from their usefulness. 
It is by such investigations, in fact, that natural 
history is rendered practically useful, and is brought 
to bear upon the ordinary business of life. In ex- 
patiating upon the advantages attending the study of 
nature, we have already touched upon this subject, 
and have shown in what a variety of ways a slight 
knowledge of natural history might be turned to 
practical use. When we reflect how little has yet 
been done in ascertaining the chemical properties 
of animals and vegetables, there seems no valid 
reason for supposing that beneficial discoveries may 
not still be made, provided due attention be given 
to such enquiries. The properties of nature are in- 
exhaustible ; and man, as he advances in civilisation 
and refinement, acquires new desires and new wants. 
How astonished would the ancient inhabitants of 
the Scottish islands have been, had they foreseen 
that the loads of sea-weed called kelp, which they 
suffered to lie and rot upon their coasts as utterly 
valueless, would become a source of immense 
wealth, and that this manufactory would suddenly 
be destroyed, by the discovery of cheaper and bet- 
ter substitutes. 
(123.) 3. We come now to the third head of those 
n 3 
