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The anatomy of plants cover

The anatomy of plants

Chapter 130: Lecture II. - Luctation
By Nehemiah Grew
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About This Book

This work presents a systematic, observational study of plant structure and function, describing the internal organization of seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds as revealed by close inspection and a microscope. It maps tissues and organs, explains the movement of sap and air, and analyses the generation and distribution of plant fluids and substances such as milks, oils, and salts. Additional lectures examine leaf and flower anatomy, coloration, tastes, and soluble salts, and the text includes comparative tables and explanatory notes to support a mechanical and physiological account of vegetation.

EXPERIMENTS
IN
CONSORT
OF THE
LUCTATION
Arising from the Affusion of several
MENSTRUUMS
Upon all sorts of
BODIES,
Exhibited to the Royal Society, April 13. and June 1. 1676.

HE intent of the following Experiments is two-fold. The one, to be as a Demonstration of the Truth of one, amongst other Propositions, laid down in the precedent Discourse of Mixture, Ch. 5. Inst. 5. sc. That it would be a Key to let us easily into the knowledge of the Nature of Bodies.

The other, and that consequently, To be as a Specimen of a Natural History of the Materia Medica: that is to say, a multifarious Scrutiny into the intrinsick Properties of all those Materials, which have been, or may be used in Medicine: for the performance whereof, the following Method is exhibited as one, amongst others, necessary to be insisted upon. For what Dominion a Prince hath over the Moral, that a Physician hath, as one of God Almighty’s Vice-Roys, over the Corporeal World. Whom therefore nothing can more import, than a particular knowledge of the Genius of all his Subjects, those several Tribes of Matter, supposed to be under his Command.

There are some known Observations of this nature: but there is no Author, I think, who hath given us a Systeme of Experiments upon the Subject: The performance whereof is here intended.

The Experiments may seem too numerous to be of one make. But no less a number would have answered the design of an Universal Survey; which, though less pleasing, proves the more instructive in the end: not being like angling with a single Hook; but like casting a Net against a shole: with assurance of drawing up something. Besides the advantage of comparing many together; which being thus joyned, do oftentimes, like Figures, signifie ten times more, then standing alone, they would have done.

How far the Corollaries all along subjoyned have made this good, is left to the Reader to judge. And also, to add to them, so many more, as he pleases: for I make my own Thoughts no mans Measure.