240 REFLECTIONS ON 



with what we formerly advanced ; for, when 

 the ftomach and inteftines properly perform 

 their furtd:ions, the faeces are only the grofs 

 dregs of the aliment, and all the nourifhing and 

 organic particles are abforbed by the ladleal vef- 

 fels: In this cafe we cannot exped: to find or- 

 ganic particles in the faeces, w^iich are folely 

 compofed of the uielefs and inert part of our 

 food. But, when the ftomach and inteftines, 

 from any indifpofition, allow the food to pafs 

 without being properly digefted, then the orga7 

 nic particles mix with the faeces; and, when 

 examined with the microfcope, we difcover 

 them in the form of living organic bodies. Hence 

 we may conclude, that people who are troubled 

 with loofenefs Ihould have lefs feminal liquor, 

 and be lefs fitted for the purpofes of generation, 

 than thofe of a contrary habit of body. 



I have all along fuppofed that the female fur- 

 nifties a fluid equally neceflary to generation as 

 that of the male. In the firft chapter, I endea- 

 voured to prove, that every organized body con- 

 tains living organic particles; and, in Chap. II. 

 and III. that nutrition and rcproduciion are ef- 

 fetls of the fiime caufe ; that nutrition is per- 

 formed by abforption, or an intimate penetration 

 of organic particles through all parts of the 

 body ; and that reprcdudtion is effedied by the 

 fuperplus of thefe fame organic particles, col- 

 ledied from every part of the body, and depofi- 

 ted in refervoirs deftined for that purpofe. In 



Chap, 



