I 



136 



MUSCLES, NERVES, BRAIN. 



Sect. VIII. 4. 



S^<- 



derived from Galen, and which muft have originated 

 norance of chemiftry and natural philofophy. 



his total lor 



In fome flowers the males bend into contad with the females 



as 



in ciftus, kalmia, fritilla 

 female bends to the ma 



perfic 

 as in 



thrum fal 



in oth 



th 



fonia, gloriofa, genifta, epilo- 

 bium^ which /hews a fcnfibllity to the paffion of reprodudion. In 

 irritation the Simulated mufcles only are brought into adion, with- 

 out being perceived by the other parts of the fyftem; but m/en/ation 

 the whole fyftem is affecled by means of the brain or common fenfo- 

 rium, and thence very diflant mufcles are brought into action to ac- 

 quire an agreeable objed, or to repel or withdraw from a difagreeable 

 one. See Zoonomia, Vol. I. Se£l. XIII. 2. 



r 



4. That plants pofTefs in fome degree the power of volition would 

 appear firft from the hedyfarum gyrans, which moves its leaves in 

 circular dlredlions when the air is too flill. Secondly, from the 

 marchantia polymorpha, in which fome yellow wool advances from 

 the flower-bearing anthers, while it drops its dufl: like atoms. Mur- 



ray's Syftem of Vegetables. Thirdly, from the tendrils of vines, and 



which continue to move 

 round, till they find fomething to adhere to, or till they have rolled 



the flems of other climbing vegetables, 



themfelves up in a fpiral line like a cork-fcrew. And laftly, from 

 the efforts of almofl: all plants to turn the upper furface of their leaves, 

 or their flowers, to the light. 



But there is an indubitable proof of plants pofTefling fome degree 



of voluntarity, and that is deduced from their fleep. In animal bodies 

 fleep confifls in a fufpcnfion or temporary abolition of voluntary 

 power ; the organs of fenfe being at the fame time clofed, or by fome 



other means rendered unfit for the perception of external bodies. Now 



the fleep of plants is proved by the hanging down or clofing of the 



leaves of many plants, and of fhutting the petals and calyxes of many 



flowers in the dark, and 



their again 



opening or expanding them in 



the llghtj or at certain hours of the day. 



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bit 

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the 

 fev 



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tc 



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 Sc 

 tn 



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