CHAPTER III 



ON THE EVOLUTION OF LIFE, COMPREHENDING 



THE END FOR WHICH ANIMATED BEINGS 



WERE CREATED. 



THE existence of vitality, without organic 

 action, is proved by the seeds of plants, by the 

 ova of animals, by the foetus in utero, as well 

 as by torpid animals in a torpid state : it is 

 proved by the multitude of cases which we 

 constantly behold, in the foetal state, in which 

 many of the organs which are absolutely neces- 

 sary to carry on the functions of the adult sys- 

 tem, are altogether wanting. I have seen a 

 foetus without a head, others with a head, but 

 without brain; some without lungs, others 

 without a heart or lungs : many have been 

 found destitute of abdominal viscera, and with 

 various other malconformations of the system. 

 Although these organs were either defective, or 

 wanting, the other parts of the system were 



