THEIR LIFE AND AFFINITY. 245 
of particles belongs properly to its internal vegetative side, its external 
side (for the very reason that it is turned immediately to the outer 
world) will appear as a perceptive and reciprocating activity*. But 
since we may constantly recognise in every mutual relation of body as 
well as of action a threefold momentum, viz. action, reaction, and con- 
nexion or the indifference of both, these three elements must therefore 
be found also in each of the two sides of the animal organism. In fact 
we find them in the external (animal) side, as perception, motion, and 
the connexion of both through the nerves; in the internal vegetative 
side, as assimilation, secretion, and the connexion of both by circulation. 
But whatever is true of the bond which in these two spheres gives every 
form its centricity, the same must naturally be found in the so-called 
connecting nervous and vascular systems. Yet these two systems must 
not perhaps be considered as occasioning a real dualism in the organi- 
zation, but as equally subordinate and reduced to a unity, namely the 
nervous system, as being the higher, because it belongs to the animal 
which includes the vegetative sphere. 
Sixth consequence. As the plant is not merely occupied with its own 
change of particles and continual transformation, but when it has at- 
tained its perfect development produces the seed, as the representative 
of all its properties, the true reproduction of the species, we find in the 
animal likewise a similar reproduction of the species, in so far as even 
the animal is but a more perfect vegetable nature. The system thus 
established in respect to the animal, viz. the sexual system, possesses in 
its nature a polarity similar to that of the plant ; for we find in the more 
perfectly organized animals, a female reproductive and a male impreg- 
nating organ. But, on the contrary, we find the lower animals, like 
the inferior plants (see p. 239), endowed with female organs only. The 
activity of this system, manifesting itself especially in assimilation, se- 
cretion, and (as the basis of these two momenta) in vascular action, be- 
longs to the sphere of vegetation; and there is nothing to be compared 
with it in the animal sphere, except that activity by virtue of which, in 
the most perfect animal organism, that is the human, the idea of nature 
is reproduced by means of spiritual power, and truly developed through 
science and art. 
We have now further to consider the composition and internal forma- 
tion of the animal body, as well as the nature and direction of its active 
faculties of life. In the first point of view, we observe that it contains, 
like the organism of the earth and of the plant, a combination of solids, 
fluids, yapours, and gases, among which the fluids are again the sources 
of the rest. Its ultimate elements are principally hydrogen, oxygen, and 
 * It is only in this way that the origin. of the sensible side is capable of a 
scientific construction. 
Vou. L—Parrt II. s 
