VEGETABLE AND 



eralogists, we consider atmospherical air and certain 

 other gases as minerals, it may be said that the vital pro- 

 cess in vegetables accomplishes the transformation of 

 mineral substances into an organism endued with life ; 

 that the mineral becomes part of an organ possessing 

 vital force. , , 



The increase xxt'hiass in a living plant implies that 

 .eertaijt sopipotieint ;parts ef its nourishment become 

 component parts of the plant ; and a comparison of the 

 chemical composition of the plant with that of its nour- 

 ishment makes known to us, with positive certainty, 

 which of the component parts of the latter have been 

 assimilated, and which have been rejected. 



The observations of vegetable physiologists and the 

 researches of chemists have mutually contributed to es- 

 tablish the fact, that the growth and development of 

 vegetables depend on the elimination of oxygen, which 

 is separated from the other component parts of their 

 nourishment. 



In contradistinction to vegetable life, the life of ani- 

 mals exhibits itself in the continual absorption of the 

 oxygen of the air, and its combination with certain com- 

 ponent parts of the animal body. 



While no part of an organized being can serve as 

 food to vegetables, until, by the processes of putrefac- 

 tion and decay, it has assumed the form of inorganic 

 matter, the animal organism requires, for its support and 

 development, highly organized atoms. The food of all 

 animals, in all circumstances, consists of parts of or- 

 ganisms. 



