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XXI. Comparalive Anatomy ; or a sl'tghl Attempt to dram up 

 a Comparison between Animal and Vegetable Life. By 

 Mrs. Agnes Ibeetson. 



To Mr. Tilloch. 



Sir, — XAFTER having dissected most parts of vegetables, shown 

 their different powers, and endeavoured as far as able to inquire 

 into and explain the various uses to which each different part is 

 applied, it struck me that it was now time to draw up some- 

 thing of a comparison between animal and vegetable life. I 

 have often during the course of this work lamented the injury 

 done to t!ie anatomy of botany, from comparisons drawn only 

 from human anatomy : because a surgeon vvould be but too apt 

 to add many more })ovvers than really exist in the vegetable, 

 unless he had very exactly compared and studied the two dis- 

 sections tngetlier. But as a perfect assistance may be procured 

 in the description of the human body, that, joined to a thorough 

 knowledge of the vegetable, would not, I think, be liable to the 

 same objection. I shall, however, try it : and if I should make 

 any mistake, it will i)e pardoned in one who can claim but very 

 imperfect knowledge in Ituman anatomy, and who will (but in a 

 very few cases) attempt {in animal anatomy) to borrow from tier 

 own dissections. 



In reading books of anatomy, and viewing the dissections of 

 animal life, when conUastL'd with a vegetable being, it is impos- 

 sible not to be struck with the studied care and elaborate pains 

 seemingly exhausted in forining the first, and the clearness of 

 invention and simplicity of formation observed in the second. To 

 display this, I s'aall first give a slight sketch of tlie human figure, 

 contrasting it, as I proceed, with a more finished picture of the 

 vegetable frame ; toucliing most lightly on those jiarts which ad- 

 mit not of being compared with j)lants, but dwelling as strongly 

 and clearly as possible on those features which do, or are sup- 

 posed to, admit of some resemblance to the human structure. 

 In viewing the figure of a 7nan and of a tree, it is hardly pos- 

 sible to conceive two things more completely dissimilar ; and in 

 beholding the skeleton of each, they would appear too much ?/«- 

 like to be compared, not seeming at a first view to offer any of 

 those simiiit7ides which are necessary in such cases. 



But though no general resemblance can be discovered, vet a 

 sort of comparison n.iay be drawn up, |)erha}js advantageous to 

 both, as more clearly impressing on the mind the beautiful di- 

 versity to be found in two beings, both jjossessed of a different 

 kind of existence ; showing also a J'eio mstnuves in which there 

 is ^.ome resemblance; fixing the similitude wiiich doc.^ or does not. 



Vo],46. No.208. ^//i;«,/ ISlo. F exist; 



