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CHAP. VI. The Absorbent*. 



1. THE office of these vessels has been before discussed 

 under the title of Growth. From what is there said, as well as from 

 the preceding views, it will be perceived that the prevailing doc- 

 trines with respect to the share assigned this system in the organic 

 processes is very questionable. 



2. It appears probable, perhaps it may be said indisputable, 

 that the absorbents remove the particles of the structures, when, 

 from other causes, their cohesion has ceased. But if the vital pro- 

 perties belonging to them have any operation upon the fixed par- 

 ticles of the structures, this operation must be preceded by a change 

 in the relation subsisting between the material particles and the 

 spiritual properties by which they were first aggregated. 



3. If any such vital relation should be discovered, it will then 

 remain to be decided concerning the life of the absorbents, as 

 whether of the assimilating only, the regular dependent, or of the 

 occasional kind. But until a vital function is ascertainable, it is 

 superfluous to inquire into its possible laws. 



4. The strict mode of philosophizing, which has before been 

 sketched, the analytical research, the investigation conformable 

 with doctrines of causation, would proceed upon these objects and 

 these difficulties something in the following way: 



5. Each single effect has a history of causation; each effect 

 may be taken separately and this history traced. Suppose then the 

 question to be by what agents, or by what process, do the particles 

 composing a portion of muscle, a muscular fibre, assume their place? 

 We have already answered this question, by imitating, theoretically, 

 the sensible analytical process ; but the strict account would require, 



1st, That we specify the state of the particles previously to that 

 act, that effect in which it is concerned; which gives rise to 

 our question. 



2nd, To explain the change which it suffers, we must specify 

 whether properties are added to it, or whether its condition is 

 changed by a relation with other properties with which it was before 

 in combination, or from which it before received influence. 



3rd, Having settled whether the change in the condition of the 

 particle is produced by properties directly conferred on the particle 

 itself, or by abstracting other properties (or separating their alliance) 



