34 DIGESTION. 



CONVERSATION II. 



Digestion possessed by vegetables as well as animals 

 alimentary canal its coats the teeth mastication 

 lateral motion of the jaws deglutition descent of 

 the food into the stomach abdomen stomach. 



Dr. It. The function of digestion is that by which 

 the various articles of aliment are received into the in- 

 terior of the animal, converted into one homogeneous 

 mass, deprived of some qualities and endowed with new 

 ones, and finally fitted to be carried into the system and 

 submitted to the operation of other processes which pre- 

 pare it for its destined purposes. It is the most essential 

 function in the whole animal economy, and seems to be 

 the ground work of all the others. 



Emily. According to your definition then, the func- 

 tion of digestion is possessed by vegetables. It is a 

 whimsical idea indeed, to conceive of digestion without 

 a stomach or a mouth, though to be sure, this method 

 has one redeeming quality, its possessor is never in 

 fear of dyspepsia or toothache. 



Dr. J3. It is immaterial what names we use, provi- 

 ded we distinctly understand their meaning, but since 

 the process by which the sap is absorbed in the roots, 

 and carried to the leaves where it is converted into a par- 

 ticular juice of an entirely different nature, which sup- 

 plies the plant with the materials of growth and secre- 

 tion, will come under the definition that we have given 

 of digestion, this term is rightly applied to it. Beside?, ' 



