LECT. III.] GLANDULAR TEXTURE. 89 



possibility of attaining an accurate knowledge of 

 the glands of the animal body, which are large 

 and visible to the naked eye, is considered, it will 

 not appear wonderful that our remarks on this 

 part of our subject are drawn rather from analogy 

 than from actual observation. When, however, 

 we reflect on the nature and diversity of the vege- 

 table secretions, and that plants possessing the 

 most opposite properties rise from the same soil, 

 there appears to be no medium by which the 

 absorbed aliment can be so altered in its characters, 

 except by that of a glandular system. I am 

 willing to admit that the simplicity of the vegetable 

 structure is astonishing ; and that effects are pro- 

 duced in plants, by means which are apparently 

 very inadequate, when we regard them with a 

 reference to the animal economy : yet, still, when 

 the eye glances over the number and variety of 

 vegetable products, there is much reason for sup- 

 posing, that the simple transfusion of fluids can 

 scarcely be sufficient for the production of these 

 changes. We know that the laws of chemical 

 affinity, in the temperature in which they take 

 place, are inadequate to the effect ; and, besides, 

 many of the changes produced, particularly those 

 which fit the sap to be assimilated into the sub- 

 stance of the plant itself, are directly contrary to 

 the laws of chemical affinity, which operate in 

 destroying these combinations, as soon as the vital 



