ELEMENTS OF THE BODY 



ton, and cellulose are similar in chemical composition, but 

 differ widely in character. 



Wood is of no use to 

 the body, but starch and 

 sugar are common foods. 

 Starch is changed to 

 sugar before it becomes 

 a part of the body of 

 man. Only a little sugar 

 is found in the body at 

 one time, for almost as 

 fast as it enters it is 

 used up to produce 

 warmth. About five 



A thin slice of potato (x 200). 



a Albuminous and fibrous pockets. 

 Ounces Of Starch Or SUgar b starch grains in the pockets. 



must be eaten each day. 



Minerals. The minerals salt, lime, soda, and potash, 

 are always found in the body. 



31. Salt. Common salt is found in the bodies of all 

 animals, and a less amount in vegetables also. There are 

 about six or seven ounces of salt in the human body. In 

 animal food there is enough salt to supply the needs of 

 the body, but some must be added to vegetable food. So 

 flesh-eating animals, like dogs and cats, will not eat salt, 

 while vegetable-feeding animals, as horses, like it. 



Salt gives an agreeable taste to food, and this causes the " mouth to 

 water," and all the other digestive fluids to flow freely, so that the salted 

 food is quickly and easily digested. 



Some kinds of albumin in the body will dissolve in water only when 

 salt is present, and if it is diminished in amount, or is absent, these 

 albumins cannot do their work. 



Salt diffuses very readily, and also aids in the- diffusion of all kinds 

 of food. So salt has very important uses in the body, and when it is not 

 used there is great suffering. The proper amount of salt is present in 



