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f looms, machines more or le*s compounded, 

 convert into the proper subsjfancif of the plant or animal* 

 the various matters subjected to the action of their springs 

 and liquors. These machines, which are so superior iir 

 structure to those of art, seem still more so when com- 

 pared, iu their essential effects, Those matters which 

 organical machines work, they likewise assimilate and 

 incorporate with themselves; they grow by this incor- 

 poration, augment in their dimensions every way, and 

 during their growth, all their parts preserve among 

 themselves the same; relations, the same proportions, the 

 same exercise ; all continue to discharge their proper 

 functions: the machine remains, in its extended state, 

 what it was in miniature. It is a system, a wonder- 

 ful assemblage of at* almost mrmiie number of tubes,, 

 differently formed; calibered, and interwoven, that like 

 so many fiitres, purge, fashion, and refine the nutri- 

 tious matters. Each Ebre, what am I saying? each 

 fibrilla is itself a machine in miniature, which, by 

 performing analogous preparations, appropriates to it- 

 self the alimentary juices and gives them the arrange- 

 ment suitable to its form and their functions. The 

 whole machine is in some measure only the repetition 

 of all these lesser machines, whose united strength con- 

 spires to the same general end. The excellence of 

 orgaiiical machines appears, in a conspicuous light, 

 -from other still more striking instances: they not 

 only produce, from their own foundation, machines- 

 similar to them, but a great number of them repro- 

 duce of themselves those parts they had been deprived 

 of, which various parts become afterwards as many 

 machines, equally perfect with.. those whereof they be- 

 fore only made a part. 



21. To conclude: the same general design comprizes 

 all parts of the terrestrial creation. A globule ot light, 

 a molecule of earth, a grain of salt, a particle of moul- 

 <jiness, a polypus, a shell-lish, a bird, and a quadruped, 

 man, are only different strokes of this design, and re- 

 present all possible moditicatiotts of the mutter of QUJ.V 



