362 RESPIRATION. 



nitrogenous matters alone in their typical amount c do not suf- 

 fice for the requirements of the vital functions, but that at the 

 same time a certain amount of non-nitrogenous matter (distinct for 

 each organism) must be subjected to oxidation ; when, therefore, 

 the carbo-hydrates are entirely wanting and the albuminates are 

 only sufficient for the restoration of the tissues, the fat is expended 

 in the accomplishment of this object ; hence its quantity the 

 minimum of the necessary non-nitrogenous combustible materials 

 may easily be calculated, if we know the typical amount of nitro- 

 genous materials undergoing metamorphosis, and the proportion 

 which exists during a state of inanition between the absorbed 

 oxygen and the oxygen which is excreted (in combination with car- 

 bon). From the above observations we learn, that the proportional 

 number (for the oxygen in the carbonic acid) after the use of pure fat, 

 is 71*32; if now we designate the typical expenditure of albumin- 

 ates as c, and the proportional number in a state of inanition be 

 found to be 75*0, we obtain according to the simplified formula 



(83-60 75-OQ) c __ ^ q uan tity of fat which is consumed together 

 75-0071-32 



with c albuminates. 



We will not extend these remarks, since no further proof is 

 necessary to show how extensively the observations already made 

 on the relation of nutrition to the process of the excretion of car- 

 bonic acid may be applied to many other momenta of the process 

 of respiration. We, at all events, obtain some fixed point of sup- 

 port for numerous investigations on the metamorphosis of matter 

 generally. 



Although in our considerations of the influence exerted by 

 ordinary food upon the respiration, we have deduced the results of 

 the observations in question from purely chemical relations, we 

 should greatly err were we to adopt the same method in reference 

 to certain substances, which are occasionally introduced with the 

 food into the organism, such, for instance, as the ethereal oils, 

 alcohol, theme, &c. We do not mean that these substances con- 

 stitute any exception to this fixed law of nature, but the immediate 

 effect which they produce reminds us that there are nerves in the 

 animal organism which exert the most important influence on all 

 its functions, on nutrition as well as on respiration, and that, con- 

 sequently, they in some degree disturb that uniform course of 

 phenomena which we might suppose would result from chemical 

 laws. We cannot, therefore, believe that alcohol, theine, &c., 

 which produce such powerful reactions on the nervous system, 



