Volume 1

Zoonomia; or, the laws of organic life / [Erasmus Darwin].

  • Erasmus Darwin
Date:
1794-1796
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Zoonomia; or, the laws of organic life / [Erasmus Darwin]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/624 page 5
    BoE; © Fl ok “OF MOTION. Tue WHOLE -OF NATURE may be fuppofed to confift of two ef- fences or fubftances ; one of which may be termed fpirit, and the other matter. The former of thefe poffeffes the power to commence or produce motion, and the latter to receive and communicate it. So that motion, confidered as a caufe, immediately precedes every ef- fect; and, confidered as an effeét, it immediately fucceeds every caufe. The MoTIONs oF MATTER may be divided into two kinds, pri- mary and fecondary. The fecondary motions are thofe, which are given to or received from other matter in motion, Their laws have been fuccefsfully inveftigated by philofophers in their treatifes on me- chanic powers, Thefe motions are diftinguifhed by this circum- ftance, that the velocity multiplied into the quantity of matter of the body acted upon is equal to the velocity mulsplied into the quantity of matter of the acting body. _ The primary motions of matter may be divided into three clafles, thofe belonging to gravitation, to chemiftry, and to life; and each clafs has its peculiar laws. Though thefe three claffes include the- motions of folid, liquid, and aerial bodies; there is neverthelefs a fourth divifion of motions ; I mean thofe of the fuppofed ethereal fluids of magnetifm, ele¢tricity, heat, and light ; whofe properties are not fo well inveftigated as to be claffed with fufficient accuracy. iff,
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