312 DR ALISON’S OBSERVATIONS ON 
formed by the union of azote from the atmosphere with hydrogen from water, 
whenever another substance, exerting an attraction for the oxygen of the water, 
is present.—(Chemistry of Vegetable and Animal Physiology, p. 149, et seq.) 
Now, as carbonic acid and water form starch, or its allied compounds, in the 
living vegetable, by the attraction of carbon for the elements of water, to the ex- 
clusion of oxygen; and as the starch then forms oil, by the attraction of the 
carbon to hydrogen, to the exclusion of great part of the remaining oxygen; 
so, on the introduction of ammonia, or its elements in a state fit for entering into 
new combinations, into the scene of those metamorphoses, it is only in accordance 
with what we know of the nature of these vital affinities, to suppose that the car- 
bon may attach to itself the elements of this ammonia, to the exclusion of the 
elements of water and of oxygen, matters which are known to be continually 
thrown off by vegetables, during the continuance of these vital processes. Thus 
we have the elements of starch, 48 C, 40 H, 40 O plus the elements of ammonia, 
6.N, 18H, —48C, 6N, 58H, 400 =48C, 6N, 36H, 140 (the elements of albu- 
men) plus 22 HO + 40, a considerable quantity of the water, and a small quan- 
tity of the oxygen, which are continually exhaled by the plant. 
Thus, during the whole process of the formation of organic compounds in the 
vegetable, we see that the vital affinities shew themselves by the attractions of 
Carbon, first for the elements of water in preference to oxygen, then, either for the 
hydrogen of those elements, in preference to the oxygen, or for the elements of 
water, with an excess of hydrogen, along with those of ammonia ; and thus, by 
these peculiarities of attraction of Carbon, for the elements of water, for hydrogen, 
and for azote,—to the more or less complete exclusion of oxygen,—we see that the 
essential materials of all organized matters may be easily formed,* while water 
and oxygen, the known excretions of vegetables, only escape. 
The point at this moment most disputed, and the settlement of which is most 
essential to the precise comprehension of the nature of vital affinities, is, Whether 
there is any formation of albuminous matter in animal bodies? and it is obvious, 
that there is a difficulty in regard to its formation from starch, just similar to 
that which was stated as to the formation of oil in the animal body, because 
we see no evolution of oxygen; but it is also certain that this may be got over, 
precisely in like manner as in the former case, by supposing—what is quite 
in accordance with known facts—that a considerable absorption of the oxygen of 
the air attends the process, and that, with its help, a large portion of the carbon 
* This may be shortly stated thus CO, + HO = Carbonic acid and water. From this is formed, 
C+H+0 = Sugar, oxygen going off. From this, 
Ci, ay On, = Starch, water going off. From this, either 
Cy, OF = Fat, oxygen going off. Or, : 
Cy N, “H 6O,, = Albumen, ammonia being added, and water and 
a little oxygen going off. 
