192 AGRICULTURE. BOOK I. 



or by chemical decomposition, &c. Our knowledge of the uses 

 of vegetables in the arts, whether in their juices or extracts, for 

 dyeing or tanning, salts for bleaching, or wood for implements or 

 architectural purposes, is acquired by various modes of compa- 

 rison, observation, and inference ; but more particularly by ac- 

 tual experiment and researches, either chemical or mechanical. 



The Animal Kingdom may be similarly divided with the 

 vegetable; viz. into 1st, The animal economy ; 2dly, The clas- 

 sification and nomenclature of animals; 3dly, Their natural pro- 

 perties; and, 4thly, Their uses, or subserviency to mankind. 



1st, The animal economy includes physiology, anatomy pro- 

 per and comparative, digestion, circulation of the blood, gene- 

 ration, &c. Anatomy proper is a branch of knowledge with 

 which every one ought to be more or less acquainted, not only 

 because it will enable him in many cases to guard against or al- 

 leviate accidents or diseases, and especially the present danger- 

 ous systems and practices of physicians ; but also as a source of 

 philosophical reflection, and sublime contemplation. Even a 

 very slight general knowledge of the human frame will excite 

 our wonder and awe at the contrivance of the whole, and confirm 

 and establish the mind in the natural sentiment of Deity. Com- 

 parative anatomy, digestion, generation, &c. are of great impor- 

 tance in breeding, rearing, and fattening animals, as well as in 



