RECAPITULATION. 351 



matter through every part of animal or vege- 

 table bodies ; expanlion, or growth, is only a 

 more extenfive fpecies of nutrition, which pro- 

 ceeds as long as the parts are dudile, and ca- 

 pable of being ftretched; and reprodudion is an 

 effed of the fame matter, when it fuperabounds 

 in the body of an animal or vegetable. Every 

 part of organized bodies fends off to proper re- 

 iervoirs the organic particles which are fuper- 

 fluous for its nourifhment : Thefe particles are 

 perfedly fimilar to the different parts from 

 which they are detached, becaufe they were 

 deftined for the nourifhment of thofe parts. 

 Hence, when the whole particles fent off from 

 every part of the body are alTembled, they muft 

 necelTarily form a (mall body fimilar to the ori- 

 ginal, becaufe every particle is fimilar to the 

 part from which it was detached. It is in this 

 manner that every fpecies of reprodudion, 

 where only one individual is requifite, as that of 

 trees, plants, polypi, vine-fretters, &c. is ef- 

 feded. This is alfo the firft method employed 

 by nature for the rcprodudion of fuch animals 

 as require the aid of different fexes; for the fe- 

 minai fluid of each fex contains all the particles 

 neceffary for reprodudion : But, to complete 

 the operation, fomethlng more is requifite, 

 namely, the mixture of both fluids in a place 

 fuited to the expanfion and growth of the foe- 

 tus; and this place is the uterus of the female. 



There 



