[ 456 ] 
remarkable, that it would induce one to believe, that it 
loft confiderably of its fubftance ; but from experiment 
VI. it is evident that it does not. The fame thing hap- 
pens to a plant when killed by electricity If a grow- 
ing juicy plant receives a ftroke of ele 61 ricity fufficient to 
kill it, its leaves droop, and the whole becomes flexible. 
So far animal and vegetable life appear to be the 
fame; yet an animal and a vegetable differ in one 
very material circumftance, which it may be proper 
to take particular notice of in this place, as it fliews 
itfelf with remarkable evidence in thefe experiments. 
An animal is equally old in all its parts, excepting 
where new parts are formed in confequence of difeafes ; 
and w'e find, that thefe new or young parts in animals, 
like the young ftroots of vegetables, are not able to fup- 
port life equally with the old; but every plant has in it 
a feries of ages. According to its years, it has parts of all 
the fucceflive ages from its firft formation; each part 
having powers equal to its age, and each part, in this re- 
fpeeft, being fimilar to animals of fo many different ages. 
Youth in all cafes is a ftate of imperfedfion ; for we find 
that few animals that come into the world in winter live, 
unlefs they are particularly taken care of ; and we may ob- 
ferve the fame of vegetables. I found that a young plant 
(c) To kin a whole plant by eleftricity, it is necelTary to apply the con- 
dudlor, or give a flrock to every projedling part; for any part that is out of 
the line of direction will ftill retain life. 
was 
