40 OF NUTRITION 



the part is augmented proportionally, without 

 changing its form. Hence it is neceirary, that 

 the increafing matter muft, in fome manner or 

 other, intimately penetrate the whole part in all 

 its dimenrions : It is equally neceflarv, that this 

 penetration Ihould be effected in a fixed order 

 and proportion, fo that no internal point receive 

 more matter than another ; otherwife fome parts 

 would be more quickly unfolded than others, 

 whicii would entirely change their figure. What 

 can thus regulate the acceffory matter, and force 

 it to arrive equally and p'-oportinally to every 

 internal point of the body, if we have not re- 

 courfe to an internal mould ? 



The bodies of anioials and of vegetables, there- 

 fore, confift of internal moulds, which uniform- 

 ly preferve the fame figure. Bat their mafles 

 may receive a proportional increafe, by the ex- 

 panfion of the moulds in all theif dimcnfions, 

 both internal and external ; and this expanfion 

 is eiTed:ed by an intus-fufception of an accef- 

 fory and foreign maticr, v/hich intimately pe- 

 netrates the whole, and aOumes the lame form 

 and identity of fubltance with the matter of the 

 moulds themfelves. 



But what is the nature of that matter which 



* 



an animal, or a- vegetable, aiTunilates to its own 

 fubftance ? What beftows on it that force and 

 adivity which enables it to penetrate the inter- 

 ?i^l mould ? If fuch a power exifts, mufl: it nor. 



be 



