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 oi 

 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 



