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future relation? or, is the secretion identified, and the peculiar pro- 

 perties which distinguish it conferred, by the union of those vital 

 ones belonging to the structure, with the fluid obtained from blood? 

 The latter appears probable on the following grounds: 



1st, If the secretion is separated by affinity, by the vital proper- 

 ties of the structure, it is consonant with the known laws of affinity, 

 that these properties should combine with the substance which they 

 so far affect as to be capable of detaching it from another state of 

 combination. Thus far that the secretion is formed by a constitu- 

 tion to which the vital properties of the structure contribute, is 

 strongly indicated, if not proved. 



2nd, The secretion is found to possess properties, which may 

 be developed into a similitude of those of the animal in which it is 

 produced. Hence, if those precise vital properties which are after- 

 wards exhibited by the secretion, are not those which before existed 

 in the structures, and are conferred on the secretion; at least, pro- 

 perties agreeing with those diffused ones of the animal in which the 

 secretion takes place, must belong to the glandular structure, and 

 must then operate by a causation more complex than we have 

 hitherto supposed ; this, at least, is to be inferred from the fact that 

 the constitutional peculiarities of various seats are transmitted to 

 the offspring, &c. Upon the ground then of these considerations, 

 which are indeed deserving of some reliance, and to avoid the con- 

 fusion of still greater subtilties, we may thus continue the enumera- 

 tion of processes. 



6. Vital properties of the glandular structure combine with the 

 gross fluid secretion produced from blood, and constitute its latent 

 vital properties, the history of which has been sufficiently discussed 

 in our first chapters. 



7. As in the other instances of secretion there is reason to be* 

 lieve the governing properties are in part obtained from some other 

 seat, so in this it has been inferred in the chapters alluded to, and 

 rested principally on the fact that this secretion contains all the pro- 

 perties of the animal, or those combinations capable of producing 

 all the textures, and of displaying all the phenomena of life: so, in 

 agreement with preceding views, and principally on the strength of 

 this fact it is concluded, that the functional spirit of the testes is 

 formed by a participation of that existing in every sphere. Whether 

 the nerves are the medium of this communication, I neither know 

 nor care. Some may in this case use the word sympathy; be it so, 

 sympathy is a causation among these properties which I have been 

 taking some pains to trace. 



8. The secretion contains the properties conferred by the struc- 

 ture, and those withdrawn from blood ; it is that which it is made by 

 these two; they are related, they modify each other, and final pur- 

 poses are accomplished by them in additional stages of causation. 



