The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-02-28

Animal snd Yszefobie SHbst0nces" &
The Doctor commenced by reviewing ire posa
lions of his last lecture He had then spoken of
two classes Of natural objects, organic and inor.
papic. and discussed first the distinctions between
them in their material composition He had stated
that sixty one elements entered into the compost
ton of the Inorganic and only twenty into that OF
the organic that the organic were simply consti-
tuted and the organized were complex in their cha
racter that there always existed in organized oo-
dies tendency to decomposition, which did not ex
ist in unorganized bodies; that organic bodies were
composed of liquids, solids or gases, while inor-
ganic bodies were composed Of only one oil either
of those three properties, no two being united
that organized beings were composed OF series OF
organs perfectly dissimiar, but each absolutely ne
cessary to the perfection Ct the whole, while NOR
ganzed bodies were constituted of parts homoge-
neous, each perfect miniature OF the whole he
had next spoken of the differences in the manifes-
tations of activity between the two classes-tnat
with reference to inorganic bodies they originated
by the coming together of the different elements OF
which they were composed, and that 1t was not ne
ces,arv TO their creation that some being similar 10
themselves should have existed previously, but that
II was necessary to the creation of organized boz
dies. that there were but few if any beings the re-
ult of spontaneous combustion that the inorganic
bodv remained as it was formed, while the organic
was subject to nutrition and various changes; and
that the inorganic body was stable and unless ope
rated upon by chemical agencies never persisted.
while the organic existed for limited period only
There was third point of distinction to which
he would now allude, and that was with respect to
the forces which operated upon these two classes of
| picb adu suIi I'm 10
ton of forces denominated physical forces-as gra-
vi,y, attrition chemical affinity and cohesion
These forces also acted upon organic beings
There were other forces, however to which organ
lied matter was subject, which were not brought
into play in the inorganic world small cell con-
tanned the germ of every organized body, and these
cells were endowed by nature with different pro-
pertes and absorbed different elements muscle
was endowed with contractiity and gave motion
The nerves of the brain were endowed with sensi-
bility. These forces different from those act
| ing in the inorganic system, and were vital The
sum of all these functions gave the vital principle of
life for the evidence of life was in the effects.
| He would now proceed to take view of organ
lied beings who had been arranged into the animal
| and vegetable kingdoms, although the difference
was not SO marked as between organic and inorganic
substances.
1t was thought that the highest class of the vege-
table approached nearest to the lowe.t class of the
| animal kingdoul-but this was not the case. The
lowest class of the vegetable approached nearest to
the lowest class of the animal kingdom. Thus the
protoza of the animal most nearly correspond to the
| protophyte of the vegetable species. The sponge
was ranked in the latter class, although it had been
ranged under the head of animals because of pos
| sessing motion.
There was great difficulty in asserting animals
| and vegetables, and he would point out few char
acteristics by which they might be distinguished
| from each other Both classes agreed in the pro-
eesses of nutrition and respiration, without which
neither could live. But general property of ami
mails was motion, and motion as he hadinstanced in
| the sponge, was notconfined to animals. We found
in plants the motion of the sap which corresponded
to the circulation of the blood in animals. The
dionea muscipula venus's fy-trap had very
percephble contractive motion when touched the
result of external stimulus and the mimOsd pudics
or sensitive plant was of similar nature. There
were other plants instanced by the lecturer of
Migratory motion. 1t could not be said therefore,
that motion was confined to animals. The differ
ence that existed this point was in the character
of the motion. The hydra denizen offresh water,
when grain of dirt touched the arms of its body,
would ms inctiveiy draw them in, but when live
animalcule touched them, they drew in the animal
cule into the digestive apparatus Here then was
evidence of discrimination and voution in the mo-
tons of animals. Animals were alss endowed with
innate rratibility and sensbility, while vegets
bles were not
Another mark of difference was found in the fact
that in digestive animals their was always found
something indicative of stomach. Even the little
infasoria were very highly organized and possess
ed organs of digestion, stomach and nervous sys-
tenn. The necessity for these internal digestive or
gans existed by reason of the external nature of
the animal
The last point he would touch upon would be the
distinction between the materials of their respec
tive nutrition. All vegetables were composed OF
| seven proximate pIineiples-lignin, starch sugar,
celluiso, albumen, fbrine and csseine. The lee
tlrer here explained at length in very interesting
manner, the mode 10 which vegetables drew their
nutrition from the atmosphere and soil. ALI the
elements existed in the atmosphere for the compo-
sition of every plant the globe. They drew from
the atmosphere certain elements which they decom-
posed, and then recomposed IN these proximste
principles. This compromising power was truly
wonderful-did the animals have any such powerf-
No. They stood ON earth with the elements of their
nutrition around them, it was with vegetables
but utterly unable to touch them The plants
therefore, in obtaining nutrition for themselves fur
nshed to animals their nutrition. Vegetables also,
took off those elements of the atmosphere that were
nescious to the life of animals and man. Thus
through this system of compensation the air was
kept pure and healthy for Orpanized ha;nos m, 10
man; and nutrition was furnished by the yeeeta
bic to the animal kingdom, and through them to
man.
u s. CIRCUIT CoURT.-The official decision of
the Supreme Court, upon the application of Reid
and Clements for new trial, having been received
at this Court, on yesterday, the Court entertained
the motion for new trial made by Clements, Coun-
sci on the ground of senaratinn nft the