292 MEAES MEDICINAL. 
passing a current of definite potential energy through soda-water, 
a series of products is formed culminating in sugars; oxalic 
acid is first formed, then tartaric acid, next citric acid, until 
grape sugar appears. 
The paramount importance of phosphatic foods for building 
up the vital structures of nervous centres, and the main 
bodily organs, is unquestionable; so that food sources of 
phosphorus as present in alkaline phosphates are well worth 
consideration. Those foods which are most rich in phosphoric 
elements are yolk of egg, fish roe, the germ of wheat, calves’ 
brains, and the thymus gland. Furthermore, phosphates 
of potash, soda, and other mineral salts are furnished inter alia 
by the cabbage, potatoes, lentils, and new milk. Phosphoric 
acid occurs with animals, and vegetables, in varying degrees. 
The phosphorus, whereof we cannot over-rate the importance, 
is present inorganically, as well as in combination with alkalies, 
or earths. Dr. King Chambers, however, explains as to certain 
popular notions with respect to taking phosphorus as of power 
for specially feeding the brain. He elucidates this matter by 
telling that “the dogmatic expression of Biichner’s—‘ No 
thinking without phosphorus’—has gained an unhappy 
notoriety. If it be held to mean that the amount of phosphorus 
passing through the nérvous system bears a proportion to the 
intensity of thought, it is simply a mis-statement of facts. A 
captive lion, tiger, or leopard, or hare, who can have wonderfully 
little to think about, assimilates, and parts with a greater 
quantity of phosphorus than a professor of chemistry working 
hard in his laboratory ; while a beaver, who always seems to be 
contriving something, excretes so little phosphorus, at least in 
his urine, that chemical analysis cannot detect it. All that the 
physiologist is justified in stating is that for the mind to energize 
in a living body, that body must be kept living up to a certain 
standard, and that for this continuous renewal of life a supply 
of phosphatic salts is required. The phosphates, indeed, are 
wanted, but wanted by pinches, whilst water must be pouring 
in by pailfuls. One might go on thinking for weeks without 
phosphates, but without water only a few days; and without 
oxygen a few minutes would terminate the train of self-conscious- 
ness. The practical points taught us by physiology are, that 
for the integrity of thought, the integrity of the nervous system 
is requisite, and for the integrity of the nervous system, a due 
