CHAPTER II. 



Of Reproduction in general* 



WE fhall now examine more clofely this 

 property, which is common to the ani- 

 mal and vegetable, this faculty of producing be- 

 ings fimilar to themfelves, this fucceffive chain 

 of individuals whichconftitutes the real exigence 

 of the fpecies : And, without limiting our re- 

 fearch to the generation of man, or of any par- 

 ticular animal, let us contemplate the general 

 phaenomena of reprodudion ; let us colied; 

 fa<5ts, and enumerate the various methods em- 

 ployed by Nature for the renovation and tranf- 

 mifllon of organized exiftences. 



The firft, and apparently the mofl; fimple me- 

 thod, is to aflemble in one body an infinite num- 

 ber of fimilar organic bodies, and to compofe its 

 fubftance in fuch a manner, that every part fhall 

 contain a germ or embryo of the fame fpecies, 

 and which might become a whole of the fame 

 kind with that of which it conftitutes a part *. 



This 



♦ The intelUgent reader will perceive that this fentence, 

 though not very obvious, contains the principle upon which 

 the fubfequent theory of generation adopted by the author is 

 founded. It means no more than that the bodies of animals 

 and of vegetables are compofed of an infinite number of or- 

 ganic particles, perfectly fimilar, both in figure and fubftance, to 

 the whole animal or plant, of which they are the conftituent 

 parts. 



