DIGESTION, SECRETION, &c. SECT, XXXVII. 4. 



trition. If they arc applied to the extremities qf 

 the nervous fibrils, or in fuch quantity as to in : - 

 creafe the length or praifitude of them, the body 

 becomes at the fame time enlarged, and its growth 

 is Jncreafed, as well as its deficiencies repaired. 



Jr* this laft cafe fqmething more than a fimple. 

 apportion or feleftion of particles feems to be ne- 

 cefTary ; as many parts of the fyflem during its 

 growth are caufect to recede from thofe, with which 

 they were before in contact ; as the ends of the 

 bones, or cartilages, recede from each other, as 

 their growth advances: this procefs refembles in- 

 flammation, as appears in ophthalmy, or in the 

 production of new flefh in ulcers, where old veffels 

 are enlarged, and new ones produced ; and like that 

 is attended with fenfation. In this fuuation the 

 veffels become diixcnded with blood, and acquire 

 greater fenfibility, and may thus be compared to the 

 erection of the penis, or of the nipples of the breads 

 of women ; while new particles become added at 

 the fame time; as in the procefs of nutrition above 

 defcribed. 



When only the natural growth of the various 

 parts of the Ipody is produced, a pleafurable fenfa- 

 tion Attends it, as in -youth, and perhaps in thofe, 

 who are in the progrefs of becoming fat. When 

 an unnatural growth is the confequence, as in in- 

 flammatory difeafes, a painful fenfation attends the 

 enlargement of the fyftem. 



IV. This appofition of new parts, a,s the old ones 

 difappear, felefted from the aliment we talce, firft 

 enlarges and flrengtheris our bodies for twenty 

 years, for another twenty years it keeps us in health 

 and vigour, and adds ftrength knd folidity to the 

 iyftem ; and then gradually ceafes to nourifli us pro- 

 perly, and for another twenty years we gradually 

 link into decay, and finally ceafe to act, and tot 

 exifL 



On 



