300 



LONGEVITY OF ANIMALS. 



cavities of ihe vessels contract, the secretory organs are ob- 

 structed, the blood, the lymph, and the other fluids, extrava- 

 sate, and produce all those symptoms and diseases which are 

 commonly ascribed to a vitiation of the humors. The natural 

 decay of the solids, however, appears to be the original cause 

 of all these maladies. It is true, that a bad state of the fluids 

 proceeds from a depravity in the organization of the solids. 

 But the effects resulting from a noxious change in the fluids 

 produce the most alarming symptoms. When the fluids stag- 

 nate, or if, by a relaxation of the vessels, an extravasation 

 takes place, they soon corrupt and corrode the weaker part of 

 the solids. Hence the causes of dissolution gradually, but 

 perpetually, multiply ; our internal enemies grow more and 

 more powerful, and at last put a period to our existence. 



With regard to Quadrupeds, the causes of their dissolution 

 are precisely the same with those which destroy the human 

 species, with the exception of those which depend upon the 

 vices and intemperance of mankind. The times of their 

 growth bear, likewise, some proportion to the duration of their 

 lives. The following table will afford a view of the period of 

 arriving at maturity, the length of life of some of the principal 

 quadrupeds, and the number of young which they produce at 

 a birth. 



No. of young at a birth . 



1 

 1 



1 



rarely 2 

 do. 

 do. 



1, rarely 2 



do. 

 1 



1, sometimes 2 

 1, sometimes 2 

 1 to 3 



do. 



1 to 4 

 1 to 3 



never above 5 

 3 or 4 



