264 



ON ORGANIZATION 



for the introduction of any such power. It is ad- 

 mitted, that all the changes produced, are chemical 

 changes, and that they are proximately produced by 

 chemical affinities : but it is asked, in the tone of a 

 negative assertion, How do the digestive powers 

 adapt themselves to varied circumstances ? How are 

 the elements of the different substances forwarded 

 through their successive stages, and preserved, un- 

 altered, through all the windings of their devious 

 course, till brought within the sphere of chemical 

 action, exactly at the places where their decomposi- 

 tion and new combinations are useful ? Yet why 

 should we hesitate about these things ? They are 

 not more inexplicable than many other phenomena, 

 which, though calculated to excite the admiration of 

 every intelligent observer, do not suggest to him the 

 necessity of introducing the faculties of mind to ac- 

 count for their appearance. The naturalization of 

 exotic plants is quite analogous to that alteration 

 in the digestive process, produced by a change of 

 food on carnivorous or granivorous animals, and 

 which appears to Dr Thomson to be so inconsistent 

 with material functions. But it is only necessary 

 for us to recollect, that the difference between diffe* 

 rent kinds of food, arises more from the difference 

 in the proportions of the ingredients, than of the 

 ingredients themselves. It is true, that animal 

 food contains azote, which is not a constituent of 

 the vegetable. But azote is not poisonous ; and, to 

 the granivorous tribe, will be merely superfluous, 



