ON DIGESTION AND DIETETICS. THE PHYSIOLOGY OF DIGESTION CONSIDERED WITH RELATION TO THE PRINCIPLES OF DIETETICS. BY ANDREW COMBE, M. D. FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS IN EDINBURGH, AND CONSULTING PHYSICIAN TO THEIR MAJESTIES THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE BELGIANS. SECOND EDITION REVISED AND ENLARGED. “Nor is it left _arbitrary_, at the will and pleasure of every man, to do as he _list_; after the dictates of a depraved _humour_ and extravagant _phancy_, to live at what rate he pleaseth; but every one is bound to observe the _Injunctions_ and _Law of Nature_, upon the penalty of forfeiting their _health_, _strength_, and _liberty_,--the true and long enjoyment of themselves.” MAINWAYRINGE. EDINBURGH: MACLACHLAN & STEWART; AND SIMPKIN, MARSHALL & CO. LONDON. MDCCCXXXVI. PRINTED BY NEILL & CO. OLD FISHMARKET. ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SECOND EDITION. The first edition of the present volume consisted of 2000 copies, and has been exhausted in little more than five months. Already, also, it has been twice reprinted in the United States. This success is extremely gratifying, and shews that the desire for information on the subject of the human constitution, is rapidly extending in proportion as it is discovered to be perfectly within the comprehension of every ordinary capacity, and to be directly and easily applicable to the farther improvement of the moral and physical condition of man. The edition now offered to the public has been carefully revised, and about twenty pages of new matter have been added. Still, I fear, that many imperfections remain, which leisure and more confirmed health might have enabled me to remove, but which, under present circumstances, I feel compelled to leave to the good-natured indulgence of the reader.