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Show 262 ALL ORGANIZATION the same kind. Neither have they, in themselves, 3:ny principle by which they can increase their quantity out of other matter. It is because the smallest portions into which we can divide such substances suffer nothing but in quantity of matter by the separation of the other portions, that we call them inorganic, the different parts of them not being instruments, useless out of their place, but in it conducing to some general purpose which they would not accomplish if out of the combination. All chymical compounds have properties different from those of the substances of which they are compounded, but then the chymical compound is not 0r ganized; for all parts of it are alike, or if there be any portion of the mass which has different qualities from the rest, then that is no organ, nor even a part of that compound in any way; it is a different sub-stance. Wherever there is organization in a state of ac-tivity there is life; and perhaps the best definition of material life, taken in its most extended sense, is the faculty, or power, of producing or maintaining an organization,-a system of local parts performing different functions, but all conducing to some effect which is never, in any instance, produced by inorganic matter, how active soever that matter may be in its own way. Organized substances have not the permanence of inorganic matter. That remains unaltered if kept from the action of every thing but itself; but organized substances, if taken out of those situations and circumstances which are favourable to them, die: and, so far as we know, they are all subject to natural death. When one of 'them perishes, either from natural decay or from accident, that same one is gone for ever, never to return; and there are no artificial means, nor do we know of any process in nature, by which it can be got back again. Dut although that may be regarded as universally PROCEF.DS FROI\1 LIFE. 263 true of P-yery organi~ed .being as such, yet UJt matter of wluch that bemg Is composed is not lost by the death of the <?rgani~ed being, any more than if it had been matter man morganic state. 'fhat alone would suffice to show that there is something more ~han matter~ or th~ common properties of matter. 111 the orgamze~ bemg .. But .there is further proof; ~e know of no mstance 111 which an organized being Is produced, unl~ss from a former organized being. I~ ts true that bemgs of that kind often appear under circumstances ~here we ca~mot trace the steps. When any orgamc I?atter begms to be disorganized, or, as we. s~y~ begms to putrefy or rot, we always find that, ~f It IS exp?sed to the air, or if the air has access to It, und~r ctr~umstances favourable to the g~owt~ of orgamc bemgs, those beings, varying in kmd With t~e decaying substance, are found upon it and supportmg themselves on its substance. Some o.f these, even when they have attained their full size~ a~e. so small that the eye cannot distinguish the m~IVIduals; and they a.r~ often found in places to which we can trac.e no VISible opening. nut still t~ey never make their. appearance except in situatiOns favou~able to thmr growth. When the bodies of large ammals. are left dead upon the surface of the earth, or buned at a small distance under it in warm weather, they a~e very soon found full' of magg?ts. But even with that small difference in the circumstances, there is a difference in the mag~ o~s:f Above ground they are the larvl£ of air-flies· u I below ground, they are the larvl£ of beetles' I~, too, befor~ they have been affected by any thing e se, the ?odies are buried to a great depth in the ea~tf, ?r If they are far. in the sand, or covered wit.h ql~? ~ Ime, or coated with any of the pungent resins w Ic are hurtful to most of the minute animals' :faggots do not make their appearance. As littl~ o } ley appear when the body is under water . for so ar as we know, though there are many ~maU |