87 



the relation between the maternal and the fecundating properties, 

 and as they exist and act so are the textures developed. 



| 41. The identical properties of life afterwards manifested have 

 been shewn to exist in the ovum. As these properties do not sud- 

 denly form the textures they affect, though they should be perfectly 

 supplied with the only sensible material, viz. blood, so must they 

 undergo previous changes among themselves. The relations be- 

 tween these spiritual properties must be complied with in the first 

 pla'ce, their sphere of existence settled, their identities assumed, in 

 agreement with their proper function, which they then begin to exert. 



42. It follows from the last paragraph, that the properties 

 Which are to form the structures have not in the ovum the same 

 individual sdats, or spheres, as those in which they subsequently 

 operate. It follows, that they gradually assume their spheres, iu 

 consequence of catenated processes of causation, which are internal, 

 and commenced by the influence of the cause of fecundation. 



43. Pr6perties having assumed their spheres, their affinity Wffti 

 matter, which has been defined, and proved in many places, and 

 among others at 8, 4, 10, &c. Book 2, Chap, i., begins to be exerted. 



44. The parts of the spirit in their respective spheres, by the 

 affinity mentioned, collect and aggregate materials according to the 

 nature and amount of the properties which compose them; every 

 particle of matter laid down has a property of the spirit whose 

 sphere is in correspondence With its size. 



45. The fonriatton of the textures is not at once a perfect 

 process, which must happen (as the textures are governed by the 

 spirit) from the preparatory changes of the organic life. As these 

 lalter are modified, so the textures will be adopted : thus, the speck 

 in a partially incubated egg cannot at first or for some days be 

 recognized as the heart; even when it has become a punctum 

 saliens, its analogy to the perfect heart does but partially appear: 

 thus, also, the formation of cartilage precedes the formation of 

 bone in tlie same place, &c. 



46. Now if these conversions are said to arise from different 

 functions of the vessels, I would ask the meaning of the expression, 

 I would ask in what a variety of function in any set of Vessels con- 

 sists? or, what is the cause of that variety? Why, truly, it will be 

 found in the principle which animates them, for without this princi- 

 ple they are no agents; they can do nothing; nay, so far from ac- 

 complishing further processes of growth, the stage of organization 

 already attained is dissolved ; the textures, so far from aggregating 

 or producing changes tending to the perfection of the structures, 

 separate in all their parts, and fall into decay. 



47. The properties of the organic spirit determine, by the 

 affinity above-mentioned, what shall be its chymical and material 

 alliances. These properties then inhere and unite with the organic 

 particles, forming in conjunction another identity. 



'48. As the materials admit of being influenced through the 

 medium of the organic spirit, so the spirit itself, as willhereafter 



