84 Comparative Analomy; or an Jtlempt at 



sometimes yellow, always black when dead. When a vegetable is 

 really killed, this line is \.\\ejir-.t part to die : — thus, when struck 

 with lightning or a hardj'mtf, iu a nionieiit this line turns black, 

 end can never again be revived, thoiii^li the bark and leaves may 

 for a time retain their verdure ; as, like the hair and nails of an 

 asiimal, they possess but little life. The line of life consists of 

 three or four rows of cylinders hollow in the middle, and within 

 them are generally found the juices of the nectary ; but this mixture 

 formed in the middle root, seldom, I believe, flovvs up the vessels 

 till after the flouer haspassed up them : about the end of February 

 thejlower (formed in the root) enters t/ic.se vessels, which en- 

 large for the purpose, and run z/p tl.em, till thev arrive at the 

 buds, which were empty till then, having only their scales {pre- 

 pared some time before), and smeared with an oil which protects 

 the interior froiii all danger. The embryo then quits the vessels, 

 and enters those buds which are properly their cradles in the 

 bark, situated in the axillae of the leaves. The vessels, after this 

 service done, are restored to their usual size, and remain all the 

 rest of the year unaltered, still conveying the nectarcous juices. 

 It is only three weeks of the year that this phenomenon can be 

 seen; it appears in every plant nearly a month before the 

 flowering season. With respect to life, this line more resembles 

 the heart than brain of a human being ; as it is evidently the 

 Jirst place which exhibits life: and though it does not show it by 

 motion, having neither arteries nor blood in this part, yet it is 

 this line which gives life lo the bud, to the seed, and to the flower. 

 There is a curious similitude between the animal and vegeta- 

 ble that should be displayed here, as belonging to this part prin- 

 cipally. I have shown that the brain and spinal medulla are the 

 sources of life in the animal, as the line of life is to the vegetable. 

 I have also mentioned that the muscle and spiral wire are the 

 sources of involuntary motion to both. Now if they are each 

 struck v.'ith a quick death, that is not lightning, the irritability 

 in the muscle will remain in both oI)jects for a time after death ; 

 but the animal siruck with lightning or the plague, and the 

 vegetable with lightning or a hard frost, will direcdy lose that 

 irritability, and immedi.ite decomposition will come on ; each 

 body will grow soft, pappy, and watery, putrefaction will sud- 

 denly succeed; nay, this is often the case in both e\en before 

 death. Many have supposed that there might be some volition 

 in plants. But how can that be? What is the cause of will in 

 the human frame ? It is alone supported by the connexion of 

 the nerve with the brain ; and in motion, that nerve being also 

 fixed on the muscle, by its immedate action proves its obedience 

 lo orders sent it from tnat superior power : but there is no 

 nerve in the vegetable; nor does the muscb (if it could be sub- 

 stituted) 



