[342] De Anima, ii., 4.
[343] Ὄτι πᾶν ἐκ πάντος γινέσθαι πέφυκε.—Aristot. de Ortu et Interitu. et Auscultationes Naturales, i.
[344] See Simon’s Chemistry, vol. i., p. 118, and the authorities there referred to.
[345] Baron Cuvier says: “En un mot, toutes les fonctions animales paroissent en reduire à des transformations de fluides; et c’est dans la manière dont ces transformations s’opérent, que gît le véritable secret de cette admirable économie.”—Leçons d’Anatom. Comp. lib. i.
[346] It will be readily understood that allusion is here made to the diseases ossification and osteosarcoma.
[347] The same application of this myth is made by Eustatheus, the commentator on Homer (ad Odyss., iv., 417), and by Heraclides Ponticus (Gale’s Opuscula Mytholog., p. 490). The words of Heraclides are very striking: “That hence it was with good reason that the formless matter was called Proteus; and that Providence which modified each being with its peculiar form and character was called Eidothia.”
[348] De Sapient. Vet., cap. xiii.
[349] Op. cit., iv.
[350] These opinions of Newton bear a strong resemblance to those of Strabo, as expressed in the following passage: “Since all things are in motion and undergoing great changes, it is to be supposed that neither does the earth always remain the same, so as neither to be augmented nor diminished; nor yet water; nor that either always possesses the same seat, for that a change of one thing into another seems very much according to nature. For that much earth is converted into water, and much water into earth.”—Geograph., xvii., 1.
[351] See p. 120, Ray Society’s edition.