ANIMAL ORGANIZATION. 85 



states of developement which are exhibited in the 

 highest class. 



Great efforts have been made by physiologists 

 to discover the particular structure which might 

 be considered as the simplest element of all the 

 animal textures ; the raw material, as it were, with 

 which the whole fabric is wrought : but their 

 labours have hitherto been fruitless. Fanciful 

 hypotheses in abundance might be adduced on this 

 favourite topic of speculation ; but they have led 

 to no useful or satisfactory result. Haller, who 

 pursued the inquiry with great ardour, came to the 

 conclusion that there existed what he calls the 

 simple or primordial fibre, which he represents as 

 bearing to anatomy the same relation that a line 

 does to geometry. Chemical analysis alone is 

 sufficient to overturn all these hypotheses of the 

 uniformity of the proximate elementary materials 

 of the animal organs : for they are found to be 

 extremely diversified in their chemical composition. 

 Neither has the microscope enabled us to resolve 

 the jiroblem : for although it has been alleged by 

 many observers that the ultimate elements of every 

 animal structure consists of minute globules, little 

 confidence is to be placed in these results obtained 

 by the employment of high magnifying powers, 

 which are open to so many sources of fallacy. 

 That globules exist in great numbers, not only in 

 the blood, but in all animal fluids, there can be no 

 doubt ; and that these globules, by cohering, com- 

 pose many of the solids, is also extremely probable. 

 But it is very doubtful whether they are essential 

 to the composition of other parts, such as the fibres 

 of the nmscles, the nerves, the ligaments, the 



