I oil I OKMS AND QUALITIES. 11 



15. 



The absolute measure may be best taken from the parts of 

 the human body, because these are universally present, and 

 are the same among all nations. If these parts be compared 

 with the fixed civil measure, we readily perceive that they 

 cannot, by any means, be determined with geometrical exact- 

 ness. But this exactness is the very thing which in Botany we 

 ought not to aim at, because organised bodies neither form geo- 

 metrical lines and figures, nor can be calculated according to 

 a geometrical measure. Where the measure of the human 

 body is not sufficient, we can only have recourse to a civil 

 scale : but, in this case, we can only form an a2)proximation 

 to the truth, and ought not to consider the individual exten- 

 sion as general. 



16. 



The smallest measure in Botany is the breadth of a hair, 

 (capillus, hence capillar} s). If this be compared with the 

 civil measure, it forms about the twelfth part of a geometrical 

 line. But we must not confound the term capillaris with 

 capillaceus, since this latter term signifies, according to the 

 rule formerly given, (§ II. 5.), having the nature or consist- 

 ence of a hair. 



After the hair, follows the breadth of the white crescent 

 on the nail, which corresponds more or less with a geometrical 

 line. This measure is named Vinea, whence linearis ; which 

 term, when applied to surfaces, signifies, that they preserve 

 the same breadth throughout. It must not be confounded 

 with rmeatus, which may be translated, marked with lines, 

 or streaks. 



To this succeeds the length of the nail of the finger ; (un- 

 guis^ whence unguicularia). This is about six lines, or half 

 an inch. 



Next comes the breadth, or even the length of the outer- 

 most division of the thumb, (polldv, whence pollicaiis). This 

 forms exactly an inch ; hence it is called uncia, uncialis. 



The length of the middle finger follows, or, which is I lie 

 same thing, the breadth of the hand reckoned from the 



