Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-08-06

that it is not merely inconsistent with the scheme
of nature that il should do so. but that it is a
false notion in philosophy. Whether vegeta-
| bic or an animal being be the object of our con-
| temptation, each alike is traceable to parents,
sometimes divided into separate sexes and per-
sons, and sometimes united in one person, as in
the Zoophytes; and we also know that every new
being arises from an egg. Where either living
| or dead organised matter swarns with colonies
Of animals, such matter does not produce them
spontaneously, but beings resembling them have
there deposited their eggs which germlnate in
the warmth Of the SUMS rays.
How, it may be asked, have we acquired this
fact? Simply by the use of more perfect micros-
copes than were formerly invented, when Hew
son and Lewenhoch published their dreams to
the world, and assisted in the spread Of the false
doctrines. The philosophy Of the present age is
enriched with better conclusions; the audaclous
theory uf Llmark is subyerted; and instead OF
his material hypothesis, we are enabled "to rem
der unto God that which is Gods" by restoring
what are considered as the lowest links Of the
animal chain to their proper places in the great
scheme oi nature. The ultimate PARTICLES Of all
organized matter were recently assumed by GER
tam philosophers in France, to be uniformly Of
tine same hsure-globular. The particles Of the
bIpod and of the chyle. and of milk, were thus
identified with those of the solid textures; and
hence theory arose, which associated the SIM
plest infusory being-the monas, infinitely less
than grain Of sand, with the PARTICLES ct the
blood SC Here then was supposed to b" the
clue to the basis of organization. And. ASST
ming the material nature OF the monas, the whole
system of creation was reduced to the operation
| OF physical laws; and thus life might be refer
red to inanim.te matter for its origin, and the
vital phenomena considered merely as m0dnca-
tiuns aud results Of physical changes.
The mOnades were said to be furnished MIN
no organs and from their uni"ersaiity their ca
pablily Of remaining mo,ioniess and dry toryeaT5.
and then coming to Lille upon the application OF
warmth and moisture, their microsc"pical Tcs"ni-
blance to the ultimate Particles OF the blood ana
solids, all combined 10 render IT probable that the
| source of organization was discoveries; but. un-
fortunately for so beautiful and senelaizing
theory it has been since discovered not only that
the simplest infusory beings are completely Or
nanized. and are produced from parent, and
! formed in an egg, but rather hattened like trench
ers, or of the shape Of Yorkshire cakes. The ul-
innate particles vary also in size as we'll as shape
| The organization of iniusorie was discovered
partly by the help of remarkably powerful glass.
es, and partly by adding minute portion OF So
luton OF indigo TO the infusion OF vegetable mat
ter. The beings Of the simplest structure were
thus observed to swallow PARTICLES OF the indigo,
which all tended to cOngregate about an aperture
or mouth OF the animal, and were seen to pass
inwards; and thus IN some instances TO demon
strale the existence also Of one stomach, and IN
others of plurality Of stomachs. Eggs, also,
have been demonstrated, and the Matching OF young
observed where equivo'al generation was suPpos-
ed TO exist A nervous system, and blood ves-
i h, odd aI tNha n
the scale Of that observed in the earth worm
The exten. to which the minute beings go, such
as are to be seen only by means Of good mit ro-
scope, is perfectly astonishing. single NY
that feeds on dead flesh. has been fuund To con-
! tain about il twenty Thousand lar,1, some of
which are hatcked. and arrive at maturity Ill live
DAYS. One species of fly has been known TO
commit mure havoc than an elephant, from ITS
fecundity Some plants contain the ova ct the
/ little insect called the aphiS; and so prolific Is
this species, that a single individual may, It Is
calculated. produce descendants i'll 1--WE gene
ratiuns. amounting to 1904, 600! whist in
one year il caa produce twenty seneratons.-
Three Vumitnrre dies, saws Lnn;eus, will cause
! a horse TO b.. devouted as quickly a. lion could
effect 1t himself. In this manner, vegetables and
! animals teen with life. and support myriads OF
beings, oya, and lar,9; and the ponds aud ditch
eS swarm with them. anu minute anu sample
: as they sometimes are in their structure. obser-
walton and analogy show that they possess organs
of respiration, digestion. and for the circulation
Of the blood and chyle, for locomOtion, defence,
and reproduction. Nor is the vegetable world
! les. curiously constructed, as all these organs
are universally found 10 every individual proper
, ly examined.
Our knowledge of the infusory beings is very
limited; but there IS every reason to believe they
| do not take their station among the links OF the
annual chain according to their dimensions, but
from their structure. The smallest and simplest
is as much an animal as the prouder examples OF
natures works, and is equally the object OF the
creators care aud contrivance. The study ct
the habits of the iniusorIa is therefore worthy OF
man, and may be ranked as higher one than
mauv of the pursuits OF the frivolous and the idle,
who affect to Lespse it as fitted only for the nur.
sery. Besides the sources already mentioned.
whence animalcu'cs NAV be obtained. spirits OF
wine, ether, whiskey. Sc. contains them-and
so curiously are they constructed in reference to
their relations to air aud heat, that the elevation
q NJ, IN no hnIinu Dnint. has hpeu