2« 



THE PHILOSOPHY 



body, furniflied with an immenfe number of parenchymatous and 

 ligneous fibres, and interwoven in a manner precifely fimilar to that 

 of the trunk and branches. When the fkin is removed, the pulp 

 appears, and is every where interfperfcd with fmall cylindrical fibres, 

 wound up into minute bladders. A large nerve runs along the mid- 

 dle of every leaf, and continually fends off branches, which gra- 

 dually decreafe in magnitude, till they reach the edge or difc. This 

 principal nerve is a colledion of fmall tubes, which, at proper di- 

 ftances, go off, and are diftributed over the leaf in a manner 

 precifely fimilar to the diftribution of the nerves over the human 

 body. 



With regard to flowers and fruits, their general texture is the 

 fame with that of the parts already defcribed, differing only in va- 

 rious proportions of the ligneous veffels and parenchymatous or 

 pulpy fubftance. That vegetables are polTeired of fecretory glands, 

 is apparent from the almoft infinite variety of their taftes, odours, 

 and colours. Thefe fenfible qualities differ even in different parts 

 of the fame plant. But the glandular fecretion of vegetables is mod: 

 confpicuous in the flowers and fruit. Many flowers fecrete a nec- 

 tareous fluid, which is more grateful to the palate than the finefl 

 honey. The glands of fome fruits, as thofe of the lemon and 

 orange, fecrete liquors of very different qualities. The veffels of 

 the rhind contain an acrid effential oil, while thofe of the paren- 

 chyma or pulp fecrete an agreeable acid. 



This fimilarity in the general flrudure of animals and plants is 

 ftrongly corroborated by the analogous .parts in both being deftined 

 to anfvper the fame purpofes. 



The oeconomy and functions of vegetables, as well as thofe of 

 animals, are the refults of a vafcular texture. Each of thefe clafles 



of 



