48 O F N U T R I T I O N, &c. 



principle, which may be employed wirh equal 

 advantage and certainty as any of thofe that are 

 already known. 



The defed: of Ariftotle's philofophy was the 

 employing particular effeds as caufes; and that 

 of Des Cartes confifts in the rejection of every 

 caufe, but a few general efFeds. To ufe nothing 

 as caufes but general effeQs, to endeavour to 

 augment the number of thefe, and to attempt to 

 generalize particular effects, would conftitute the 

 mofl: perfed principles of genuine philofophy. 



In my theory of expanfion and reproduction, 

 I firft adroit the mechanical principles, then the 

 penetrating force of gravity, and, from analogy 

 and experience, I have concluded the exiftence 

 of other penetrating forces peculiar to organized 

 bodies. I have proved by fads, that matter has 

 a ftrong tendency towards organization; and 

 that there are in N.uure an infinite number of 

 organic particles. 1 have, therefore, only gene- 

 ralized particular obfervations, without advan- 

 cing any thing coiUrary to mechanical principles, ' 

 when that term U iifed in its proper fenfe,as de- 

 noting the general elFeds of Nature. 



CHAP, 



