4 ORGANIZED AND [iNTEOD. 



I. Every Living Being is organized, that is, composed of different 

 parts or organs, each of which has its definite structure, by which 

 it differs from other parts, and is capable of fulfilling a certain end. 

 The complex matter, which enters into the composition of an or- 

 ganized being, or organism, is termed organic matter, and is obtained 

 by its proximate analysis. The ultimate analysis of this matter 

 resolves it into elementary principles,, such as constitute other objects 

 of the universe. 



The various bodies that compose the mineral kingdom, do not 

 exhibit the same distinctness and variety of structure in their com- 

 ponent parts, nor is there any adaptation of their parts to separate 

 functions ; they are therefore called unorganized or inorganic, and 

 chemical analysis resolves them into those simple elements which 

 admit of no further subdivision. 



Organized bodies are found in two states or conditions. The one, 

 that of life, is a state of action, or of capacity for action. The other, 

 that of death, is one in which all vital action has ceased, and to 

 which the disintegration of the organized body succeeds as a natural 

 consequence. 



An organized body in a state of active life exhibits certain pro- 

 cesses, by which its growth and nutrition are provided for, and 

 which enable it to resist the destructive influence of surrounding 

 agents processes, the object of which is to promote the develop- 

 ment, and to preserve the integrity of the body itself. The sim- 

 plest animal, or vegetable, is an illustration of this remark. 



But there are organized bodies in which life may be said to be 

 dormant. In these, no actions or processes can be observed, nor 

 any change taking place : yet, if placed under certain favourable 

 conditions, vital activity will soon beconle manifest. Of this, we 

 have familiar examples in a seed, and in an egg. It is well known, 

 that seeds will retain their form, size, and other properties for a 

 very considerable period; and afterwards, if suitably circumstanced, 

 will exhibit the process of germination as completely as if they 

 had been only recently separated from the parent plant. Eggs, 

 also, may be preserved for a long time without injury to the power 

 of development, or to the nutrition, of the embryo contained 

 wdthin them. 



It is worthy of observation, that those processes, which denote 

 vital activity, may be sometimes temporarily suspended, even in 

 fully formed animals and vegetables ; and, in such instances, life 

 may be said to become dormant. The privation of moisture is the 

 ordinary cause of this interruption to the phenomena of life. In dry 



