100 PARTICULAR CONSIDERATIONS ON THE 



tion, contrary to the actual state, and much more contrary to 

 the tendency, of science. 



First, with regard to the constituents of organic bodies, it 

 is found that they are merely a selection of the simple sub- 

 stances which form the inorganic or non-vitalized world. 

 Carbon, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, are the chief. The 

 first combinations of these in animals are into what are called 

 proximate principles, as albumen, fibrin, etc., out of which the 

 animal body is composed. Now, so far from there being any- 

 thing peculiar or mysterious in these combinations, it is 

 acknowledged that they are simply chemical. "It is now 

 certain," says Dr. Daubeny, of Oxford, " that the same simple 

 laws of composition pervade the whole creation ; and that if 

 the organic chemist only takes the requisite precautions to 

 avoid resolving into their ultimate elements the proximate 

 principles upon which he operates, the result of his analysis 

 will show that they are combined precisely according to the 

 same plan as the elements of mineral bodies are known to 

 be."( 42 ) A particular fact is here worthy of attention : " The 

 conversion of fecula into sugar, as one of the ordinary pro- 

 cesses of vegetable economy, is effected by the production of 

 a secretion termed diastase, which occasions both the rupture 

 of the starch vesicles, and the change of their contained gum 

 into sugar. This diastase may be separately obtained by the 

 chemist, and it acts as effectually in his laboratory as in the 

 vegetable organization. He can also imitate its effects by 

 other chemical agents." ( 43 ) The same writer elsewhere adds, 

 " No reasonable ground has yet been adduced for supposing 

 that, if we had the power of bringing together the elements 

 of any organic compound, in their requisite states and pro- 

 portions, the result would be any other than that which is 

 found in the living body. Every fresh discovery," he says, 

 " is tending to break down the barrier between the two 

 classes of organic and inorganic bodies, as far as regards their 

 chemical combination." ( 44 ) 



It is much to know the elements of organic bodies, and that 

 the first combinations of these are simply chemical. The 

 powers by which these combinations take place are next to 



