GENERATION. SECT. XXXIX. 4. 



excited into a&ion by certain kinds of ftimulus. 

 By the ftimulus of the furrounding fluid, in which 

 it is received from the male, it may bend into a 

 ring, and thus form the beginning of a tube. Such 

 moving filaments, and fuch rings, are defcribed by 

 thofe, who have attended to microfcopic animalcule. 

 This living ring may now embrace or abforb a nu- 

 tritive particle of the fluid, in which it fwims ; and 

 by drawing it into its pores, or joining it by com- 

 preflion to its extremities, may increafe its own 

 length or eraffuude ; and by degrees the living ring 

 may become a living tube. 



2. With this new organization, or accretion of 

 parts, new kinds of irritability may commence ; for 

 fo long as there was but one living organ, it could 

 only be fuppofed to pofiefs irritability ; fmce fenfi- 

 bility may be conceived to be an extenfion of the 

 effect of irritability over the reft of the fyftem. 

 Thefe new kinds of irritability and of fenfibility in 

 confequence of new organization, appear from va- 

 riety of fadls in the more mature animal ; thus the 

 formation of the teftes, and confequent fecretion of 

 the femen, occaiion the paffion of lufl ; the lungs 

 muft be previoufly formed before their exertions to 

 obtain frefh air can exift ; the throat or oefophagus 

 muft be formed previous to the fenfation or appe- 

 tites a& hunger and thirft ; one of which feems to 

 refide at the upper end, and the other at the lower 

 end of that canal. 



Thus alfo the glans penis, which is diftended 

 with blood, acquires a new fenfibility, and a new 

 appetency. The fame occurs to the nipples of the 

 breafts of female animals, when they are diftended 

 with blood, they acquire the new appetency of 

 giving milk. So inflamed tendons and membranes, 

 and even bones, acquire new fenfations ; and the 

 parts of mutilated animals, as of wounded fnails, 

 and polypi, and crabs, are reproduced ; and at the 



fame 



