Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-27

| OF getting weel paid tor MS trouble, as lie ue-
served, got naething left him but ruckle OF
his aine guild deals, a. dung to shivers.
ANIMAL KINGDOM.
The vari GUS bodies around us, which form
J the objects of chemical research, have all un-
dergone number Of combinations and decom-
positions before we take them in hand for eA-
animation. These are all consequences OF the
same attractions or specific properties that we
avail ourselves Of and are modified likewise by
virtue of the situations and temperatures OF the
bodies presented to each other. In the great
| mass Of unorganised matter, the combinations
appear to be much more simple than such as
take place in the vessels of organised beings,
namely, plants and animals: in the former OF
which there is not any peculiar structure OF
tubes conveying various fluids; and in the latter
there is not only an elaborate system OF vessels,
but likewise, for the most part, an augmenta-
ton cf temperature. From such causes as
these it is, that some Of the substances afforded
by animal bodies are never found either in veg
etables or minerals; and so likewise in vegeta-
bles are found certain products never unequlV'
ocally met with among minerals. Hence, among
the systematical arrangements used by the
chemists, the most general is that which divides
| bodies into three kingdoms, the animal, the
vegetable, and the mineral.
Animal, as well as vegetable bodies, may be
considered as apparatus for carrying on a de-
terminate series Of chemical operations. Vege-
tables seem capable Of operating with fluids
only, and at the temperature of the atmosphere.
But most animals have provision for mechan-
ically dividing solids by mastication, which an
swers the same purpose as grinding poundihg,
or levigation, does in our experiments that IS
to say, it enlarges the quantity OF surface TO De
acted upon by solvents The process carried
| on in the stomach appears to be OF the same
kind as that which we distinguish by the name
| Of digestion; and the bowels, whatever other
uses they may serve, evidently from an appa-
ra!Hs tGFs Is ore solid parts Of the ailments,
which are probably Of such a nature as not to
be rendered fluid, but by an alteration which
would perhaps destroy the texture of the ma
chine itself, are rejected as useless. When this
fItering fluid passes into circula,ory vessels,
through which ii is driven with considerable
velocity by the mechanical action or the heart,
it is subj ected, not only to all those changes
which the chemical action Gifts parts are ca
pable of producing, but is likewise exposed TO
the air Of the atmosphere in the lungs, into
Of respiration. Here it undergoes change Of
the same nature as happens to other combnstl-
BILE bodies when they combine with its vita!
par, or OXYGEN This vital part becomes con-
densed, and combines with the blood, at the
same times that it gives out large quantity of
heat, in consequence of its own capacity Tor
heal being diminished. A small portion Of
azote likewise is absorbed, and carbonic acid is
| given out Some curious experiments OF Spal-
lanzani shew that the lungs are not the sole Or
gans by which these changes are Effected
Worms. Insects, shells Of land, and sea animals,
egg shells dead animals, even after they have
become prtrid, are capable Of absorbing OK
ygen from the air, and giving out carbonlc acid
| They deprive atmospheric air its oxygen as
fully and IS completely as phosphorus. Shells,
however, ose this property when their organl-
cation is cestroyed by age-Amphibia, deprl-
we'd Of thtir lungs, live much longer IN the O.
| pen air, than others in air destitute OF oxygen
1t is remarkable, that larva, weighing few
| grains, would consume almost as much oxygen
| in given time as one of the amphibia thou.
sand tines its bulk. Fishes, alive and dead,
animals, and parts Of animals, confined under
water in jars, absorb the oxygen OF the atmos-
pheric air over the water Muscles, tendons,
bones, brain, fat and blood, all absorb oxygen
in different proportions, but the blood does not
absorb most; and bile appears not to absorb
any.
1t would lead US too far from our purpose If
we were to attemp, en- explanation Of the little
we know respecting the manner in which the
secretous or combinations that produce the va
rious animal and vegetable substances are ei-
fecsed, or the uses Of those substances IN the e.
economy of plants and animals. Most OF them
are very different from any of the products Of
the mineral kingdom. We shall, therefore, Oh
ly add, that these organized beings are SO con,
trived, that their existence continues, and all
their functions are performed, as long as the
vessels are supplied with food or vegetable ma
,erials to occupy the place OF sue h as are CARR
ed on by evaporation from the surface, or 9TH
erwise, and as long as no great change is made,
either by violence or disease, in those vessels,
or the fluids they contain. But as soon as the
entire process is interrupted in any very con-
siderable degree, tie chemical arrangements
become altered the temperature IN land AMI
mails is changed, the minute vessels are acted