The Philosophy of Health; Volume 1 (of 2): or, an exposition of the physical and mental constitution of man — John Shaqi
The Philosophy of Health; Volume 1 (of 2): or, an exposition of the physical and mental constitution of manSmith, Southwood
Philosophy
The Philosophy of Health; Volume 1 (of 2): or, an exposition of the physical and mental constitution of man
Smith, Southwood
Hygiene; Physiology
Whatever be the intimate composition of the fluids out of which the
solids are formed, the investigation of which is more difficult than
that of the solids and the nature of which is therefore less clearly
ascertained, it is certain that all the matter which enters into
the composition of the solid is disposed in a definite order. It is
this disposition of the constituent matter of the living solid in a
definite order that constitutes the arrangement so characteristic of
all living substance. Definite arrangements are combined in definite
modes, and the result is what is termed organization. From varied
arrangements result different kinds of organized substances, each
endowed with different properties, and exhibiting peculiar characters.
By the recombination of these several kinds of organized substances,
in different proportions and different modes, are formed the special
instruments, or organs, of which we have just spoken; while it is the
combining, or the building up of these different organized substances
into organs, that constitutes structure.
In the living body, not only is each distinct organ alive, but, with
exceptions so slight that they need not be noticed here, every solid
which enters into the composition of the organ is endowed with vital
properties. This is probably the case with the primary substances or
tissues which compose the several organs of the plant; but that the
animal solids are alive is indubitable; nay, the evidence is complete,
that many even of the animal fluids possess vitality. The blood in the
animal is as truly alive as the brain, and the bone as the flesh. The
organized body, considered as a whole, is the seat of life; but life
also resides in almost every component part of it.
Yet the matter out of which these living substances is formed is not
alive. By processes of which we know nothing, or, at least, of which
we see only the first steps,—matter, wholly destitute of life, is
converted into living substance. The inorganic matter, which is the
subject of this wonderful transformation, is resolvable into a very
few elementary substances. In the plant, these substances consist of
three only, namely, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. The first two are
aëriform or gaseous bodies; the last is a solid substance, and it is of
this that the plant is chiefly composed: hence the basis of the plant
is a solid. The elementary bodies, into which all animal substance is
resolvable, are four, namely, azote, oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon.
Into every animal fluid and solid this new substance azote enters so
largely, that it may be considered as the fundamental and distinctive
element of the animal organization: hence the basis of the animal is
an aëriform or gaseous fluid. The animal is composed of air, the plant
of solid matter; and this difference in their elementary nature gives
origin to several distinctive characters between the plant and the
animal, in addition to those which have been already stated.
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