MfcMOIR 01' CAMl’ER. 
ioirous to the nervous matter of animals might con- 
stitute a portion of tlie structure of vegetables also, 
though it hail not yet been traceil. As vegetables 
yiossess blooilvcssels, without a heart, and absorbing 
vessels without digesting organs, so it might be (ire- 
sumed they have a peculiar nervous apparatus without 
a brain. Botany in general, and that part of it espe- 
cially wiiich is connected with minute anatomy and 
jiliysiology, has made vast jirogress since the days in 
which this discourse was jiublished. But it is not to 
be forgotten, that the subject of this memoir had his 
own share of merit in introducing and canvassing the 
subject, and propounding his views, according to the 
then ascertained facts of the science, and the ana- 
logies of living nature. 
This preliminary address from the chair of ana- 
tomy and medicine in the University of Groningen, 
clearly manifested that Camper wdshed it to be un- 
derstood, that he did not mean to take a confined 
view of the different branches he had undertaken to 
teach, hut was desirous to lead liis pupils over a 
"ide range of tliat field to which their attention was 
directed. Hence it was that he did not confine him- 
self to human anatomy, but made it his constant 
aim to illustrate every jiarticular by the interesting 
tliversities of structure met with in the lower ani- 
inals ; and in this way he succeeded in infusing a 
keen relish for natural history far beyond the limits 
<*f his class-room. During the whole time of his 
continuance in this city, he directed a large share of 
