

SCIENTIFIC TRACTS 



NUMBER XVII. 



THE PROPERTIES AND FUNCTIONS 

 OF ORGANIZED BEINGS. 



MATTER is of two kinds, organic and inorganic. To 

 that which is arranged into a certain form, and endowed 

 with a living principle, the term organized is applied. 

 That which is not endowed with life is classed among 

 the inorganic substances. All plants and animals come 

 under the class of organized substances or beings. It is 

 our object in the present tract to take a superficial survey 

 of the vegetable and animal kingdoms, so far as it re- 

 gards their physical properties and organic functions. 



The history of organized beings, or anything that re- 

 lates to them, must be of interest to us all : for from the 

 first moment of our existence, we form an important link 

 in the animal chain. The power of nature is no less 

 manifested around us than within us. We are sur- 

 rounded by animals subject to the same wants, endowed 

 with the same physical properties, and maintained by the 

 same vital processes with ourselves, at the same time, 

 they are subject to our wills, and aid us in our enjoy- 

 ments. 



Vegetables as well as animals are endowed with an 

 organized living principle, by which they are enabled to 

 select their food, to change that food and apply it to their 

 wants, and to produce fruit by which their species may 

 be propagated. 



They have a beginning and an end, or in other words, 

 they are born, and after passing through various changes, 

 and undergoing a limited existence, they die. If the 



VOL. i. NO. xvn. 36 



