AND PRACTICAL DEDUCTIONS. JS 



vegetable matter, in the general composition and 

 continuation of the world, is divisible only, and not 

 destructible ; and that therefore, as far as we are 

 able to comprehend, the animal and vegetable 

 parts of the creation are continued and sustained 

 by transmutation : or, in other words, that the 

 process of nature in creating and constructing, is 

 carried on by the continued operations of compo- 

 sition and decomposition. 



Thus animals forming the superior part of 

 the creation, are endowed with the powers of 

 destroying, masticating, digesting, and decom- 

 posing the substances of both animals and 

 vegetables. 



And vegetables which are more delicately 

 formed, seem peculiarly designed by nature to 

 act in unison with animals, in continuing the 

 animated world, by bringing the divided sub- 

 stances again into union and action. 



Animals devour both animals and vegetables 

 to support themselves, and by this they are at 

 the same time made instrumental in preparing 

 the food of plants, by facilitating the decom- 

 position of both animals and vegetables. 



From the peculiar organisation of vegetables, 

 their food can only be taken up in a state of 

 liquid, and water is the only vehicle by which it 

 can be administered. 



