The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-11-13

DIR. NELSON'S LECTURE, LAST EVENING, ON Ply.
sIoLoeY.-This Lecture was delivered last evening
at the New York Lyceum, All Broadway. il was
nch scientific treat, evincng deep research, long
study, and profound thought. There were ideas
enough In It according TO to our calculation d.
Int INTO one hundred and thirteen popula orattons
and lectures. The brevity of the sketch we shall
give OF it will do great injustice to the original lee.
ture.
The general Subject of the Lecture was Phvsiolo-
gy, or the science of life. Physiology is vsriousy
Defined as the science of the properties and iupc-
tons of animals and plants the science which
treats of the functions OF living bodies or that sci
ence which grows out OF the coercive influence of
the element life over matter.
After defining the science of physiology, DIR. Mel
son next went into an investigation and description
of morphology or the various forms of matter, or
the elements which compose body. This at first
sight seemed irrelevant or unnecessary 10 the SUBJ
iect but was reality of vast Importance The frs,
gave the usual definitions OF some OF the more com
mon attributes Of matter, as mpenerabihy, and
particularly of extensibillty or dlvislblllty.
He gave various illustrations OF the divislbty OF
matter the beating OF gold so thin that 1900 OF
the lamna only make the thickness of a sheet of
writing paper. particle OF indigo carmIne in
water may be dssipaied TO an Infinite extent A
grain oil musk will scent room tor years. and the
whole time II shall be constantly exhaIng particles
from its substance. The same is true OF common
cedar-weigh your cedar pencil now-let II give of
its particles for years TO come-then weigh 1t again.
and sensible dimlnution will be discovered
How fine and delicate must be the olfactory sense
which detects these minute PARTICLES! He then
came to more practical application OF this attribute
of matter, it appears in the living fibre, or the al
bumen. The Doctor exhibited, here, microscope,
by means of which the eye could see small ami
malcue in gobule of water, which was magnif-
ed 400 times. 1t was swimming about In the drop OF
water like huge sea serpent, invisible OF course
to the naked eye. and yet all ITS motions were pro-
duced by muscular action, by muscles, carriages,
&c. in an abuminous state. All this showed the
infinite smallness OF matter.
After various other illustrations of the smallness
of these animals, hundreds OF whom can frolick In
the Ink which would dot the letter O, DIR. Nelson
proceeded with description of inertia, another
property of matter BY this attribute we under
stand that matter cannot move OF ITSELF II 1t fall
to the earth, some power or force causes 1t TO tall
Whatever be It's condition, whether of rest, or of
motion, it can per effect no change II sold 1t
must for continue so; and if liquid, the same;
unless some foreign force effect change in its
diton Matter is not all alike 1t scomposed of So ele
four elements earth, fire, air, and water Modern
discoveries have increased the number to 55 Nine
teen of these elements enter into the composition OF
| living bodies. They are cassed as follows
Nov METALLIC ELEMENTs.
vegetable Ss' vsi.e,cls, :. S ysssSossn.
Animal vs.oiels T. :. 1 assssh,
| 8. Phosphorus.
6. sulphur.
7. iodine.
8. Bromne
9. Chlorine
10. Fuorine.
The first two compose water; the first three, We
getable vescice; and the first four, animal vesci-
| Gle.
metallic.
{ III Potassium.
Alkaline Metals, 10 Sodium.
l3 Calcium.
Ia Magnesium.
Earthly Metals, Is Silcium.
(l6 Aluminium.
II Iron.
Proper metals, Is Manganese
(l9 Copper