MEMOIR OP CAMPER. 29 



logous to the nervous matter of animals might con- 

 stitute a portion of the structure of vegetables also, 

 though it had not yet been traced. As vegetables 

 possess bloodvessels, without a heart, and absorbing 

 vessels without digesting organs, so it might be pre- 

 sumed they have a peculiar nervous apparatus without 

 a brain. Botany in general, and that part of it espe- 

 cially which is connected with minute anatomy and 

 physiology, has made vast progress since the days in 

 which this discourse was published. But it is not to 

 be forgotten, that the subject of this memoir had his 

 own share of merit in introducing and canvassing the 

 subject, and propounding his views, according to the 

 then ascertained facts of the science, and the ana- 

 logies of living nature. 



This preliminary address from the chair of ana- 

 tomy and medicine in the University of Groningen, 

 clearly manifested that Camper wished it to be un- 

 derstood, that he did not mean to take a confined 

 view of the different branches he had undertaken to 

 teach, but was desirous to lead his pupils over a 

 wide range of that field to which their attention was 

 directed. Hence it was that he did not confine him- 

 self to human anatomy, but made it his constant 

 aim to illustrate every particular by the interesting 

 diversities of structure met with in the lower ani- 

 mals ; and in this way he succeeded in infusing a 

 keen relish for natural history far beyond the limits 

 of his class-room. During the whole time of his 

 continuance in this city, he directed a large share of 



