Sect. II.] Physiology. ^17 



SECTION II. 



niYSIOLOGY. 



That department of physical science which treats 

 of the various properties and functions of living 

 bodies nuist be allowed to possess great import- 

 ance; and the review of its progress during a 

 hundred years of more industry and enterprise in 

 the pursuit of natural knowledge than the world 

 ever witnessed before, will be supposed to pre- 

 sent difficulties proportioned to the extent and 

 complexity of the subject. 



To such as feel a genuine attachment to the 

 science of nature, few subjects present inquiries of 

 a more interesting and instructive kind. AVhen im- 

 pro\ ed as far as the state of the other contemporary 

 sciences will admit, it will be found to exhibit a 

 systematic result of all the experiments and obser- 

 vations, facts and principles, which serve to explain 

 and illustrate the ]3henomena of animated nature. 

 And when it shall reach that point of advancement 

 to which a cautious estimate of the powers of tlic 

 human mind may suppose it to proceed, it will 

 probably be enabled to diffuse lights and suggest 

 improvements far beyond the most sanguine ex- 

 pectations of the naturalists of the present day. 

 In zoology, botany, anatomy, and the theory and 

 practice of physic, these good ellects may be con- 

 fidently anticipated. . , . , 



As all li\ ing bodies are subjects of physiological 

 inquiry, and as by living bodies are here meant all 



