OF THE FOETUS. 281 



a male ; becaufe the firfl: foetus confumed only 

 the organic particles peculiar to the fcx of one 

 individual, and the half of thofe particles which 

 were common to both fexes ; and, of couife, 

 the fexual particles of the other individual, and 

 the other half of the common particles, remain 

 ftill unexhaufted. To this 1 reply, that the firft 

 union of the organic particles prevents a fecond, 

 at leaft under the fame form ; and that the foe- 

 tus, being firft formed, exerts an external force, 

 which deftroys the natural arrangement of the 

 other organic particles, and throws them into 

 that order w^hich is neceffary for the formation 

 of the placenta and membranes. 



From the experiments and obfervations for- 

 merly made, it is apparent, that all animated be^* 

 ings contain an amazing quantity of living or- 

 ganic particles. The life of an animal or vege- 

 table feems to be nothing elfe than a rclult of 

 all the particular lives (if the expreffion be ad- 

 miffible) of each of thel'e active particles, whofe 

 life is primitive, and perhaps indiftruQible. 

 Thefe living particles we have found in every 

 animal and vegetable fubftance ; and we are 

 certain, that all thefe particles are equally necef- 

 fary to the nutrition, and, conlequently, to the 

 reproduction of animals and vegetables. That 

 the union of a certain number of thefe particles, 

 therefore, fliould produce an animated being, 

 it is not difficult to conceive. As each particle 

 is animated, a whole, or any aflcmblage of them, 



muft 



