Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-12-18
For the Waterman and Journa'.
PHYSIOLOGY,
or the NuruALErrEcrs OF ANIMAL AND vEG-
ErAnIE nrspIRArInN.

or the NUTuALEFrEcTS OF ANIMAL AND VEG
ETApLE RESPIRATION,
The following remarks are elected by re.
recognition Of the frelued misrepresentation
and consequent Misrepresentation OF the PRIV
Ulplos Of science, by those persons, whose rs.
surance is mistaken Tor knowledge, and whose
misUppicd opportunity for education enables
them Ia impose their whims and dogmatisms
upon community, with dangerous success.
Nothing Is more contemplate than altcta-
ton Of learning, nor is any thing more annoy
ing than tho grauitous monitnns of the block
head. These arc however, defects in human
character which have, long, held precedence
Ut claim TO literary apprehension and are no
less common than vexatious.
An example Of this kind, not unrcquontly,
recurs, in the form Of objections 10 the domes.
ticaiion Of plants, from their supposed tendon.
cy 10 impair hu nan health, by rendering the
air, ia their vicinity, les, fit Tor animal rospra-
ZION; position which, only, the tenacity Of
ignorance would have venurcd TO asmme-a
suggestion 20 Incompatible with both fact and
principle, that childhood should be rendered
competent to detect its absur1ity, and taught
10 treat it with deserved juvenile contempt.
All true science is founded upon an inspcc-
lion Of the materials and phenomena OF ma
turc, and not upon the fietons Of Disorders!
intellect and, therefore, susceptible Of an cx-
position which infancy could scarcely misnp-
prehend.
For often has Imagination been received as
fact, and opinion as argument While The one
is contemplate, unassociated with truth the
other is nugatory, undeducibc, by legitimate
reasoning, from undenabe realities. Nor is
any sentiment worthy of adoption, but from
its reasonabcness, which adequate apprehen-
sion would never fail to recognize.
Notwithstanding our present subject in
wolves, not only animal and vegetable nnato.
my, but also he science OF chemistry; il may
he clearly apprehended, as far as common
utility is concerned, by an ordinary capacity,
unaded by extraordinary cultivation.
TO whtt intellectual vigor must a person
have rlready attained, in order to apprehend,
with all required cloarness, so much of prac-
tcal chemistry as the manufacture of com
mon pewter by melting together four parts OF
tin and one of lead and also 10 distinguish
its physical peculiarilies and its mechanical
aptltudes2 Nor is it, at all, more perplexirg
10 understand that atmospheric air is mix
lure OF two gaseous elements, in nearly the
snIno ratio to each other n the above named
alloy; and that one is no less essential in the
economy of life than the other 10 the me
chanic arts. 1t is true, that nicer and Pc
cullar ecruinys required 10 detect the pres
cnce Of the clements of the atmosphere, lie
nominated hydrogen and oxygen, than Of
those which enter into the composition of
pewter; and yet they may be clearly demon
strated 10 the capacity OF a child. The fitness
OF pewter, 10 the uses 10 which it is applied,
is readily understood to depcnd upon its com
position, or the proportion Of its constituents !;
nor ia it more difficult to arprehend that air
is fl FOR respiration on the same principle
Although the Psychologist NAV be capable OF
closer scrutiny Of the principles connected
with animal respiration, he has no firmer con-
vicion Of the utility Of air, and the necessity
Of breathing, than the vcricst clowp nor
can he better apprehend the fact, that oxygen
gas is the Grand supporter of animal and Gull
nary heat, however ingeniously or patiently
he may pursue the labyrinth Of inscru,.ble
causation.
Know yc, therefore, who are prndiqal Of it,.
legitimate opinions and uniustifable asser-
lions, that the leaves of plants ncrform fGnc
! ton closely analogous 10 that Of animal lungs.
and, yet that different material is appropIia
led by ench. While, by the process Of ami
NAL respiration oxygen il consumed and car
homie acid gas evolved, that of the vegetable
! consumes the latter and evolves the former
SD That The eoonemy Of providence is most
clearly exempliticd, in the mutual benefits re-
sulting from The funciioaal products of animal
and vegetable respiration; each subssing
npon that which has become excremeniitious
with the other
Hence, an objection, more valid than the
foregoing, should DO raised against the culture
of honse.panis, before the most cornmcnda-
BILE and healthfIl female relaxation, and ore
Of the highest intellectual pleasures shall be
exchanged for insufferable ennui or contempt
iblc gossip.
IERBARIUS.