Principles of organic life : showing that the gases are of equal importances with the solids and fluids in the laws which regulate the progress of matter from the lowest inorganic to the highest organic conditions / [Benjamin Ridge].

  • Ridge, Benjamin
Date:
1875
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Principles of organic life : showing that the gases are of equal importances with the solids and fluids in the laws which regulate the progress of matter from the lowest inorganic to the highest organic conditions / [Benjamin Ridge]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    which is as palpably seen in a litter of pups, as in all other animals of whatever description. We see, then, that animals below man, grow, move, feel, procreate, have an instinct and an independent existence, and when once formed are more dependent on their own self-sui)porting vital elements than on any foreign inecesta. This I have endeavoured to illustrate in the bodv of this woi’k. When we come to man, Ave find every property of the earth, vegetation, and other animals Avonderfully combined, as might be naturally inferred by the higher order of his organism and poAvers. In fact his gases are more laden with elements of every character, their combinations are more varied, and more intensified and more poisonous than those of any other animal. That Avhereas those mighty and Avonderful combinations Avhich in all beloAv him can at best only terminate in Instinct, in man they culminate in Reason, Thought and Speech, llis nature partakes of something of everything below him, Avhile nothing beloAv him can apj)roach his sujjeriority above everything. If, then, he dives into the earth and sea, and raises his head and faculties to the atmo.s]>here he lis’es in and all that live by it, and his mind soars to the heavens and the Avonders of the great firmament itself, Avhy, may 1 ask, does he not study himself ? It can only be exjilained thus:— If you ask any naturalist the question; he replies sharply ‘ that he does not Avant to be a doctor; I leave all my comi>laints to the doctors.’ Now this is very