The reader will not expect to find that the serial arrangement of Plants and Animals, with their parallelism, has been in every instance thoroughly attained. The present is but a sample of how we are to proceed in our desire of obtaining a Natural system. With such an attempt one has something to change every year, and I have in the present translation made some alterations in respect to the Mollusca and Fishes. In this sense then it is my wish that the book may be regarded, and accordingly received with its due amount of indulgence.
LORENZ OKEN.
PREFACE.
The first principles of the present work I laid down in my small pamphlet entitled Grundriss der Naturphilosophie, der Theorie der Sinne und der darauf gegrundeten Classification der Thiere; Frankfurt bey Eichenberg, 1802, 8vo (out of print). I still abide by the position there taken, namely, that the Animal Classes are virtually nothing else than a representation of the sense-organs, and that they must be arranged in accordance with them. Thus, strictly speaking, there are only 5 Animal Classes: Dermatozoa, or the Invertebrata; Glossozoa, or the Fishes, as being those animals in whom a true tongue makes for the first time its appearance; Rhinozoa, or the Reptiles, wherein the nose opens for the first time into the mouth and inhales air; Otozoa, or the Birds, in which the ear for the first time opens externally; Ophthalmozoa, or the Thricozoa, in whom all the organs of sense are present and complete, the eyes being moveable and covered with two palpebræ or lids. But since all vegetative systems are subordinated to the tegument or general sense of feeling, the Dermatozoa divide into just as many or corresponding divisions, which, on account of the quantity of their contents, may be for the sake of convenience also termed classes. Thereby 9 classes of the inferior animals originate, but which, when taken together, have only the worth or value of a single class. So much by way of explaining the apparent want of uniformity in the system.
I first advanced the doctrine, that all organic beings originate from and consist of vesicles or cells, in my book upon Generation. (Die Zeugung. Frankfurt bey Wesche, 1805, 8vo.) These vesicles, when singly detached and regarded in their original process of production, are the infusorial mass, or the protoplasma (Ur-Schleim) from whence all larger organisms fashion themselves or are evolved. Their production is therefore nothing else than a regular agglomeration of Infusoria; not of course of species already elaborated or perfect, but of mucous vesicles or points in general, which first form themselves by their union or combination into particular species. This doctrine concerning the primo-constituent parts of the organic mass is now generally admitted or recognised, and I need not, therefore, add anything by way of apology for it or defence.
In mine and Kieser's Beyträgen zur vergleichenden Zoologie, Anatomie und Physiologie; Frankfurt bey Wesche, 1806, 4to, I have shown that the intestines originate from the umbilical vesicle, and that this corresponds to the vitellus. It is true Friedrich Wolf had already discovered it in the chick, but his was only a single instance, and completely forgotten. I have also discovered it and without knowing anything about my being anticipated, since it was nowhere taught. But I have elevated this structure to the light of a general law, and it is that unto which I may fairly lay claim. In the same essay I have introduced into the Physiology the Corpora Wolfiana, or Primordial Kidneys, but, having failed to recognise their signification, any one who pleases may filch away the credit of their bare detection.
In my Essay: Ueber die Bedeutung der Schädelknochen, (Ein Programm beym Antritt der Professur an der Gesammt-Universität zu Jena; Jena gedruckt bey Göpfert, 1807, verlegt zu Frankfurt bey Wesche, 4to,) I have shown that the head is none other than a vertebral column, and that it consists of four vertebræ, which I have respectively named Auditory, Maxillary or Lingual, Ocular and Nasal vertebra; I have also pointed out that the maxillæ are nothing else but repetitions of arms and feet, the teeth being their nails; all this is carried out more circumstantially and in detail in the Isis, 1817, S. 1204; 1818, S. 510., 1823. litt. Anzeigen S. 353 und 441. This doctrine was at first scoffed at and repulsed; finally, when it began to force its way, several barefaced persons came forward, who would have made out if they could, that the discovery was achieved long ago. The reader will not omit to notice that the above essay appeared as my Antritts-Programm, or Inaugural discourse, upon being appointed Professor at Jena.
In my Essay entitled Ueber das Universum als Fortsetzung des Sinnensystems; Jena bey Frommann, 1808, 4to, I showed that the Organism is none other than a combination of all the Universe's activities within a single individual body. This doctrine has led me to the conviction that World and Organism are one in kind, and do not stand merely in harmony with each other. From hence was developed my Mineral, Vegetable and Animal system, as also my philosophical Anatomy and Physiology.
In my Essay entitled Erste Ideen zur Theorie des Lichts, der Finsterniss, der Farben und der Wärme; Jena bey Frommann, 1808, 4to, I pointed out, that the Light could be nothing but a polar tension of the æther, evoked by a central body in antagonism with the planets; and that the Heat were none other than the motion of this æther. This doctrine appears to be still in a state of fermentation.