An enquiry into the opinions, ancient and modern, concerning life and organization / by John Barclay, M.D.

  • Barclay, John, 1758-1826.
Date:
1822
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An enquiry into the opinions, ancient and modern, concerning life and organization / by John Barclay, M.D. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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

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    PREFACE. In studying the phenomena of animals and vege- tables, the diligent inquirer must readily perceive the wide difference between their structures and those of the most regularly formed minerals. In all such structures he cannot help observing a diversity of organs, arranged and proportioned on a definite plan, mutually dependent, mutually sub- servient, and all co-operating for mutual pre- servation. In examining them minutely, he must also acknowledge a species of mechanism, of which the most ingenious mechanic can form no adequate conception and besides this mechanism, a great variety of chemical combinations, that not only indicate a species of chemistry unknown to man, but which evidently imply a species of chemists whose modes of operation are equally beyond his powers to imitate and his powers to comprehend.