INORGANIC AND ORGANIZED. 35 



times by a slow, at others by a more rapid growth, but in all cases 

 the due proportion is preserved between the various parts, between 

 the stem and the root, the limb and the trunk. Each vegetable and 

 each animal has its own size, by which it is known ; and although we 

 occasionally meet with dwarf or gigantic varieties, these are unfrequent, 

 and mere exceptions establishing the position. 



4. Chemical character. Great difference exists between inorganic 

 and organized bodies in this respect. In the mineral kingdom are 

 found all the elementary substances, or those which chemistry, at pre- 

 sent, considers simple; amounting to at least sixty-three. They are as 

 follows : Non-metallic bodies. Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, 

 selenium, phosphorus, chlorine, iodine, bromine, fluorine, carbon, boron, 

 silicon. Metals. Potassium, sodium, lithium, calcium, magnesium, 

 barium, strontium, aluminium, glucinium, zirconium, yttrium, thorium, 

 iron r manganese, zinc, cadmium, lead, tin, copper, bismuth, mercury, 

 silver, gold, platinum, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, nickel, 

 cobalt, uranium, cerium, antimony, arsenic, chromium, molybdenum, 

 tungsten, columbium, tellurium, titanium, vanadium, lantanium, didy- 

 mium, erbium, terbium, pelopium, niobium, ruthenium, norium, and 

 ilmenium. In the organized, a few only of these elements of matter 

 are met with, viz., oxygen, hydrogen, azote, carbon, sulphur, phosphorus, 

 chlorine, fluorine, potassium, sodium, calcium, silicium, aluminium, iron, 

 manganese, titanium, and arsenic. 



The composition of inorganic bodies is more simple ; several consist 

 of but one element; and, when composed of more, the combination is 

 rarely higher than ternary. Organized bodies, on the other hand, are 

 never simple, nor even binary. They are always at least ternary or 

 quaternary. The simplest vegetable consists of a union of oxygen, 

 carbon, and hydrogen ; the simplest animal, of oxygen, hydrogen, 

 carbon, and nitrogen. 



The composition of the mineral, again, is constant. Its elements 

 have entirely satisfied their affinities ; and all remains at rest. In the 

 organized kingdom, the affinities are not satisfied; compounds are formed 

 to be again decomposed ; and this happens from the earliest period of 

 foetal formation till the cessation of life : all is in commotion, and the 

 chemical character of the corporeal fabric incessantly undergoing 

 modification. This applies to every organized body ; and, accordingly, 

 change of some kind is essential to our idea of active life. In the case 

 of the seed, which has remained unaltered for centuries, and subse- 

 quently vegetates under favourable circumstances, life may be considered 

 to be dormant or suspended. It possesses vitality, or the power of 

 being excited to active life under favouring influences. 



In chemical nomenclature, the term element has a different accepta- 

 tion, according as it is applied to inorganic or organic chemistry. In 

 the former, it means a substance, which, in the present state of science, 

 does not admit of decomposition. We say, "jn the present state of 

 the science," for several bodies, now esteemed compound, were, not 

 many years ago, classed amongst the simple or elementary. It is not 

 much more than thirty years since the alkalies were found to be com- 

 posed of two elements. Previously, they were considered simple. In 



