88 FAT IS FORMED WHEN THE 



fibrine and albumen, the chief constituents of blood, 

 or by that of starch, sugar, or gum, this decomposi- 

 tion must be accompanied by the separation of oxy- 

 gen from the elements of these compounds. But 

 this oxygen is not given out in the free state, be- 

 cause it meets in the organism with substances 

 possessing the property of entering into combination 

 with it. In fact, it is given out in the same forms 

 as that which is absorbed from the atmosphere by 

 the skin and lungs. 



It is easy to see, from the above considerations, 

 that a very remarkable connection exists between 

 the formation of fat and the respiratory process. 



XVIII. The abnormal condition, which causes 

 the deposit of fat in the animal body, depends, as 

 was formerly stated, on a disproportion between the 

 quantity of carbon in the food and that of oxygen 

 absorbed by the skin and lungs. In the normal 

 condition, the quantity of carbon given out is ex- 

 actly equal to that which is taken in the food, and 

 the body acquires no increase of weight from the 

 accumulation of substances containing much carbon 

 and no nitrogen. 



If we increase the supply of highly carbonised 

 food, then the normal state can only be preserved 

 on the condition that, by exercise and labour, the 

 waste of the body is increased, and the supply of 

 oxygen augmented in the same proportion. 



The production of fat is always a consequence of 



