O F A N I M A L S. 6t 



Men who are thin, but not emaciated, and 

 thofe who are phimp, but not fat, are the rnoll 

 vio-oious. Whenever the luperabundant nutri- 

 tive particles begin to form fat, it is always at 

 the expence of the feminal fluid and other ge- 

 nerative powers. When the growth of the dif- 

 ferent parts of the body is complete, when the 

 bones have acquired full folidity, when the car- 

 tilages begin to ofTify, and, laftly, when the parts 

 almofl: refufe the admiffion of nutritive particles, 

 then the fat augments confiderably, and the 

 quantity of feminal fluid diminiflies ; becaufe 

 the nutritive particles, inftead of being fent back 

 to the refervoirs, are arretted in every part of 

 the body. 



The quantity of feminal fluid not only in- 

 creafes till we arrive at a certain age, but it be- 

 comes more thick. It contains, in the fame 

 bounds, a greater quantity of matter. Its 

 fpecific gravity is nearly double that of the 

 blood ; and, of courfe, it is heavier than any o- 

 ther animal fluid. 



To a man in health, an evacuation of this 

 fluid whets the appetite: He foon linds the ne- 

 ceflity of repairing the lofs by frefh nourifh- 

 mcnt. Hence we may conclude, that abflincnce 

 and hunger are the mod effectual checks to lux- 

 ury of every kind. 



Many other remarks might be made on this 

 fubjecSt, which mufl: be deferred till we come to 

 treat of the hifl:ory of man: We fliall, therefore, 



conclude 



