160 DETAILED SYNTHESIS. 



of the same elements, but the proportions have usually a 

 wide limit, and the quality of the compound may range 

 correspondingly. 



67. Illus. IF AN EGG OB A CHICKEN WERE A CHEMICAL COMPOUND, 



they would always be the same thing ; but if a hen be fed upon com, 

 the yolks of her eggs will be a bright yellow, and have a good flavor. If 

 she be fed upon flour, the yolks will be pale and insipid. If fed upon 

 meat, especially such as worms, fish, grasshoppers, &c., the yolks will have 

 a very deep color, and very fine, rich flavor. In either case a chicken 

 can be hatched, but it cannot be possible that the three will be alike. 



68. ORGANIC ELEMENTS OF THE SAME KIND WILL 

 THEREFORE VARY very much in quality ; they may be 

 called by the same name, but not have the same virtues. 



69. THE CHARACTER OF THE COMPOUNDS PRODUCED 

 BY PLANTS will be determined by the soil in which they 

 grow, by the air that surrounds them and the water 

 they receive, by the influences derived from the sun, 

 and by the character of the plant itself. 



70. A VERY IMPORTANT CHOICE IS THEREFORE TO BE 



MADE in the selection of food, for it is not to be supposed 

 that a good Body can be composed from poor material. 



Remark. The herbage of some pastures is much better than that 

 of others, as is proved by pasturing the same cows in both ; for in one 

 case they yield excellent butter, and indifferently good in the other. 

 Different cows also produce different qualities of butter and milk when 

 fed in the same pasture ; but however good the cows, they cannot pro- 

 duce good milk if fed upon poor pasturage. They will also produce 

 cheese differing in quality according to their food. The wool of sheep 

 also will be affected in quality as well as quantity by the food they eat. 



71. IT MIGHT BE EXPECTED, as is the case, that the 

 constitutions, and of course characteristics, of people, 

 would be greatly affected by all the influences that affect 

 the plants upon which they live, such as soil, air, &c. 



Remark. Wheat differs hi its character in different lots ; so do 

 other grains and parts of vegetables ; so do meats : and it must not be 

 inferred, because articles of food are called by the same name, that they 

 have the same value. All articles of vegetable or animal composition 



67. What ? 68. How ? 69. What said -? 70. What -? What said of 

 food of animals? 71. What ? What said of wheat ? 



