Physiological fragments : to which are added supplementary observations to shew that vital and chemical energies are of the same nature, and both derived from solar light / by John Bywater.

  • Bywater, John.
Date:
1824
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Physiological fragments : to which are added supplementary observations to shew that vital and chemical energies are of the same nature, and both derived from solar light / by John Bywater. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The University of Glasgow Library. The original may be consulted at The University of Glasgow Library.

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    ADVERTISEMENT. The supplementary remarks are chiefly Intended to carry for- ward the hint thrown out at page \\7, that vital and chemical energies may be of the same nature; and by taking up the subject in this novel point of view, it has brought together an assembfage °f fncts and opinions which were never before associated and published. Although the inquiry icas first instituted for the purpose of examining what are called the animalcules of vegetable infusions, yet it has so far extended itself as to embrace a sketch of magnetism, combustion, and the organization of plants and ani- mals, and new views are offered on these subjects at the close of the essay. That many of our popular theories are greatly embarrassed by various experimental results, must be obvious to the slightest examination; but whether we are arrived at a period sufficiently favourable for any great theoretic change is still doubtful; yet, new opinions can have no bad effect on science in general, if they are not prematurely converted into dogmatical theories. As I have not compared the supplement with the former part of the essay, several expressions may have the appearance of repetition, and even give rather different views of the same subject; nevertheless, I have published them together, being convinced that such an amplification will shew more clearly how the inquiry has led to the speculative opinions contained in the additional observations.