Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-03-18

y MANLY Ill the monad, or the yeast
fungus, is governed by the same immutable
organic laws which preside over the compli-
Gated machinery of man, and the other YER
and the single cell which is the cm-
6ryOtic condition of the mammal has no more
relation to the single cell which is the per-
manent condition of the monad than has
the perfect animal into which the mammals
an cell becomes Ultimately developed. The
cell that forms the germ of each species Of
organism is endowed with special properties,
winch can result in nothing but the fabrica-
ton OF that particular species. The serious
error which pervades the theory advanced
in the work entitled The Vestires of the
Natural History of the Creation has arisen
from its author having, in. many instances,
assumed analogy to be proof of identity.
There is an analogy between the human en-
bryo and the monad of the volvox, in that
each consists of simple cells; but there is
no more identity between the human and
the poygastrian cells, than between the per-
feet man and the mature animalcule. j.
Thoughts on Animalcules,' p "a
But there is another point connected with
this part of our subject, which we must not
pass over in silence. We have already had
occasion to observe that the physician has
been indebted to the microscope for many
Improvements in the treatment of disease.
All sciences, indeed, have a natural depen-
dence on one another, and any great discov-
cry In one must sooner or later produce a
corresponding change in others. The dis
covery of the fact that cells were the ulti-
mate limit to which all animal organization
can be traced that it is by the agency of
cells that all the vital functions are produce
ed that by them the bile, the mucus, and
all the other important fluids are secreted;
naturally leads to the idea that in many, per-
haps, in all instances, the origin of disease
may depend upon some arrangement ofthese
microscopic elements of organization and
that the maintenance of health may depend
entirely upon the integrity of cell or
cluster of cells On this point DR.. Mantell
Justly remarks -
"Hence, we can understand how mental
emotions, by disturbing or weakening the
vital influence transmitted by the nerves to
the cells of any particular organ, may inn
pair the structure and vitiate the secretions,
and ultimately induce extensive local dis
ease, long after the cause of the physical de-
rangement has passed away, and is forgot
ten Of the truth of this remark, pulmona-
ry consumption, alas affords every day the
most unequivocal and melancholy proofs
But the Tree of knowledge yields good as
well as evil fruit and if recent microscop-
ical discoveries are calculated to alarm the
timid, by showing what slight causes may
lay the foundation of fatal diseases on the
other hand, they encourage the cheering
fhat by nd
may, at length, learn how to detect tine first
functional arrangement ere the structure of
the organ is seriously impaired"
And it is only by such patient and con-
tnued observations, it is only by taking adj
vantage of the light thus thrown upon their
path by the discoveries in other branches of
science, that physicians can hope to raise
medicine from an empirical art, which even
to this day it, in great measure, is, to the
rank of true science.
The last question which we shall have oc-
caslon to discuss is that of primitive or equiv
ocal generation. We have already seen to
what an immense extent, and how rapidly,
the lnfusora are produced. A little tege-
table or animal matter, placed into distilled
water, under favorable circumstances, will,
in few days, swarm with various forms of
microscopic life. We have seen, too, that
these lnfusoria are constructed upon. the
same principle as other animals, reproducing
in their own likeness and thus each species
continues its characteristics periodically,
and enjoys certain instincts and perceptions
in common with the rest of the animal Gre
alton. Yet so prone to think wrongly is the
human mind, that certain philosophers, of
an age and country which gave birth to
the most eXtravagant materialsm, viewed
these animalcul9 as examples of their cher.
ished doctrines and they were pronounced;
to constitute exceptions to the presumed unis
versal axiom of Harvey" Omnia alb oU0."
They were accordingly referred to the prin-
ciple of equivocal generation to explain their
origin, as if they sprang into life by the cas-
ual combination of circumstances, and the
union of certain material properties and
thus animated beings, enjoying spontaneous
motion and guided by animal instincts, were
referred to senseless matter for their forma-
ton and birth, as the mud of the Nile was
anciently supposed to produce living beings
under the influence of the suns fays' Bot
this is false philosophy. Whethera vegeta-,
VIC VI uHliidi DclllS NC INC oDJCSi VI oul Soh-
temptation, each alike is traceable to pa
rents, sometimes divided into separate seSes
and persons, and sometimes united in ond
person and we also know that every new
being arises from an egg. We can no lon
ger believe that lermentive or putrciactTe,
matter, warmed by the suns rays, gives btrth'
to living creatures. Infusoria are always to
be found in vegetable infusions, because
their ova or germs, everywhere present, find
in such fluids proper medium for their de-
velopment We have already spoke of, the
prolific nature of the Infusoria; we hate
shown how, in few days, millions Of these
creatures may be produced by single indi-
vidual; and how their 'ova may be taken up
by every passing breeze, be waited from
place to place, and be deposited everywhere.
Here they remain without losing their vital
ity, everywhere ready to burst into life, and
go through their assigned phases OF devel-
opment, when placed under the conditions
specially required by the type OF organiza-
ton to which they belong" The same re-
marks hold good with regard to the. lowest
forms of the vegetable creation. The spo-
rules of some fungi are so minute, and oc-
cur in such immense numbers, that in SIM
gle individual (of Reticularia) more than
ten millions have been counted; and they