350 RECAPITULATION. 



In infufions of all animal and vegetable fub- 

 jflances, this prolific matter firil difcovers itfelf 

 under the form of vegetation : We fee it form 

 into filaments, which grow and expand like 

 plants; then their extremities and joints fwell 

 and burft to give paffage to the multitude of mo- 

 ving bodies which have the femblance of animals. 

 Nature, it would appear, begins all her opera- 

 tions by a kind of vegetable motion: This mo- 

 tion we perceive in a variety of microfcopic ob- 

 jeds, and in the expanfion of the animal em- 

 bryo ; for a foetus, at firft, polfeifes only a fpecies 

 of vegetable growth or motion. 



Sound food furnifhes none of thefe moving 

 particles for a confiderable time : Frefli meat, 

 grain, fruits, &c. require fome days infufion 

 before they exhibit any moving bodies. But 

 the more any matter is corrupted, decompofed, 

 or exalted, as pus, blighted grain, honey, the fe- 

 minal fluids, &c. thefe moving bodies make 

 their appearance the fooner. In feminal fluids, 

 they are entirely free from other matter j and 

 only a few hours infufion are neceflTary to difco- 

 ver them in pus, corrupted grain, honey, firong 

 drugs, &c. 



The exiftence, therefore, of an organic ani- 

 mated matter, univerlally diffufed through all 

 animal and vegetable fubftances, and which e- 

 qually ferves for their nourifhment, their growth, 

 and their reprodudion, is apparent. Nutrition 

 is effeded by the intimate penetration of this 



matter 



