ASSIMILATION

ASSIMILATION, ASSIMILATIO,in Physics, is properly a Motion whereby Bodies convert other duly disposed Bodies, into a Nature like, or homogeneous to their own. See MOTION, BODY, etc.

Some Philosophers call it, the Motion of Multiplication, meaning, that Bodies are hereby multiplied, not in Number, but in Bulk; which is more properly expressed by the Motion of Augmentation or Accretion. See ACCRETION, ACCESSION, AUGMENTATION, etc.



Such Assimilation we see in Flame, which converts the oily or other Particles of a Fuel into its own fiery and luminous Nature. See FLAME, FUEL, FIRE, etc.

The like we see in Vegetables, where the watery Juices imbibed from the Earth, being further prepared and digested in the Vessels of the Plant, become of a vegetable Nature, and augment the Wood, Leaves, Fruit, etc. thereof. See VEGETATION, VEGETATION, SAP, WOOD, FRUIT, etc.

So in Animal Bodies, we see the Food assimilated, or changed into an animal Substance, by Digestion, Chylification, and the other Operations necessary to Nutrition. See FOOD, DIGESTION, CHYLIFICATION, NUTRITION, ANIMAL, etc.

ASSIMILATION