14 Baron Cuvier 07i the state 0/ Natural History. 



lich and M. Beudant on the production of crystals, which af- 

 ford important ideas both for mineralogy and for the theory 

 of the earth. But, above all, should we see physiology it- 

 self, the science of life, conducted by natural history, che- 

 mistry and physics, opening up on all sides untrodden paths, 

 and giving the greatest hopes to humanity. That multiplicity 

 of forms under which life shews Itself in so great a number of 

 different animals, has given rise to less confined views of it ; and 

 the rigour of the experiments to which it has been submitted has 

 impressed upon the science to which its investigation belongs 

 a character of precision, of which, fifty years ago, it could not 

 have been thought susceptible. A generous man, M. de Mon- 

 thyon, by the prizes which he founded for it, still gives it a live- 

 ly impulse ; and already, what among ourselves M. Edwards 

 has determined respecting the action of external agents on living 

 bodies, M. Serre on the formation of the bones and the de- 

 velopement of the brain, M. Magendie on the process of absorp- 

 tion and the distinction of the nerves of the will and of sensa- 

 tion, and M. Fleurens on the particular functions of each of the 

 masses of the brain, announces a new era, of which the improve- 

 ment of the art of healing cannot fail to be the term. 



But I perceive that these brief indications have already car- 

 ried me beyond the range to which I had designed to limit 

 myself. Their fuller exposition I shall I'eserve for another 

 opportunity. Let it suffice for the present, that I have sketched 

 the picture of the tribute which peace has bought to the sciences. 

 It enables us to see at once the immensity of nature, and the 

 enjoyments which its investigation still promises us. All the 

 labours of naturalists, it must be allowed, are as yet but slight 

 perceptions, furtive glances cast over this vast field. But let 

 not this idea discourage. The only one that could truly be 

 discouraging would be, that we had arrived at the end, and 

 that there remained nothing more to exercise the genius of the 

 observer. 



