: .1 



CHEMISTRY. 



[DIET FOB THE n 



are chiefly to be cla<*l ; for her*, also, the enfe 



:' the digestive organ* is the salient fact If 

 the diminished activity of the tis- I-- m:mi 



fatted by a languid appetite, it U o much tho more 

 nooossiry for the a^xi man to cliooM the most easily- 

 di,-*tihie food. Lean meat, renUon, itrong broths, 



vegetables, and roota, M utrruta, oontii 

 abundant sugar, deserve the preference : while stimu- 

 nU. coffee, tea, a good old wine, a * 



r beer, taken in until quantities, scrviceably pro- 

 



$ 97. Dui of Woman. The general laws of the change 

 of matter are fulfill*! in the case of women tin 

 another circle of developments than in man ; fr at the 

 moment when sexual maturity begins to manifest itself, 

 m.il an: iii-nt I'ion in the exhaled carbouio 

 acid, which in the female, an in the other sex, lasts as 



as tho child is growing into the maiden, ceases. 



the age of about forty-live years a uniformity M 

 maintained, which yields to a slight increase only after 

 that period ; and in old age, as in males, gradually 

 declines. At every age, however, tho quantity, not 



of tho exhaled carbonic acid, but also of tho urea 

 daily voided, U much smaller in the female tlian in the 



While woman, therefore, is remarkable for a less active 

 a slighter muscular power, and a cilin, 

 contemplative activity of the brain, which is less easily 

 an>u-w.xl to greater exertion of thought, she is also less 

 subject to wild passion : self-control appears to be the 

 nooeisary consequence of material conditi -ins ; although 

 the whole position of woman in life, and particularly the 

 relation of tho mother to her child, combine to ingrain 

 these mental peculiarities into the true feminine nature. 

 The material basis of the female body is the best proof 

 that neither an arbitrary conventionalism, nor the uu- 

 iMe longings of the youth indulging in sweet hopes, 

 have evoked the attention and the cheerful support 

 which everywhere men have devoted to the fairer 

 Although, in many uncivilised tribes, the strength which 

 women gain from endurance encourages tho men to 

 burden them with correspondingly heavy work ; still 

 the woman enjoys everywhere the assistance which she 

 necessarily wants. And when, with a higher civilisation, 

 the consciousness of the dependence of woman inert- 

 together with that of the dignity of motherhood, the 

 superior power of man affords protection, his assistance 

 becomes homage. The maiden's loveliness, added to the 

 dignity of the wife and mother, helps to a<lorn the life 

 of more nigged and ambitious man, her gentleness of 

 manner producing that love of art which so often repre- 

 sents the wife in a noble ideal. This is the enjoyment 

 which indemnifies the wife for groat sacrifices : owing to 

 a less direct contact with the rough storms of external 

 life, she is able to cultivate a purer humanity, out of 

 which the characteristic of womanhood is born. 



The secluded life usually led by woman produces that 

 perfect symmetry of nature that fascinating serenity of 

 manner, by which tho matron is distinguished and 

 adorned. But inasmuch as her life is less agitated, her 

 manners more subdued, and her whole nature more ac- 

 customed to self-denial ; so are tho contrasts loss marked 

 between one woman and another. Their characteristics 

 are less distinctive, an I th.-ir p iili.n-iii.-s manifested in 

 more delicate and minute >ns distinctions only 



to be accurately discriminated by the most acute obser- 

 vers. Even their featur- "f this delicacy ; and 

 the painter finds .it especially ditlicnlt to cateh the. more. 

 delicate peculiarities of expression in the female face, or 

 infuse the characteristic expression into the less strongly- 

 marked features. In woman only is found that chai 

 harmony in which it is difficult to point out any salient 

 part, because the equable and cultivated tone does not 

 permit any particular point to be prominent. The least 

 favourable aspect of this harmony lies in the greater 

 monotony which distinguishes the sex from man. Of 

 this peculiarity, the greater equability of the change of 

 matter is at once tho consequence and the cause. The 

 variations in the quantity of the exhaled carbonic acid, 



to great in man, disappear almost entirely if we compare 



h woniin. With the oxcret: 



all the cor|K>real activities are moderated to a p 

 uniformity, as, on the other hand, the narrower sphere 

 in which the life of tho woman movi-s, reduces the change ! 

 1 so to a more equable course. 



\\ itli this fact, the greater nervous irritability of the 

 I sex in general is quite consistent, for the slighter 

 vivacity of the change of matter produces a diminished 

 demand for nutriment ; but nutriment, as well as the 

 mental impressions, belong to the stimulants, in the 

 wider souse of the word. And the more sparingly the 

 stimulants are used, the stronger in proportion is their 

 effect, and the more quickly also does that effect again 

 cease. As the change of matter specifically stamps its 

 impression upon all the functions of the body, so most 

 women are easily excited, but soon regain their self 

 mini . in man, on the contrary, the stronger impression 

 usually produces more lasting effect. 



$ !i.S. A I'jx-ti ft of n'unifn. From this description of 

 the change of matter in the female sex, it follows that 

 the restorative substances are required in a smaller 

 quantity than in man. It accords with a general result 

 of experience, that a less nutritious diet, or nutritious 

 food in smaller quantities, suffices to satisfy the want of 

 women ; it is, then-fore, no prudish or dainty afl 

 but a natural abstemiousness, which leads girls and 

 women to partake sparingly of food. 



On account of the greater irritability peculiar to women, 

 they commonly have a disinclination to strong condi- 

 ments and exciting beverages. To coffee and tea only 

 do they accustom themselves, and that to such a de,Tee, 

 that they do not suffer any injurious effect from them. 

 Both beverages are much relished, especially by 

 women. In general, however, neither tea, coffee, wine, 

 nor any of the heating condiments, are wholesome for 

 the female sex ; of these aliments, tea and coffee only 

 ought to be taken, and that in great moderation, diluted 

 with a large proportion of milk. 



99. Diet of the Artisan. An active change of mat- 

 ter increases the muscular power; but, on the other 

 hand, the exertions of the muscles augment the activity 

 of the excretions. He who digs the soil with the ; 

 or wields the hammer, who breaks-in horses, or wanders 

 in the open field not only perspires more, but also 

 breathes out a greater quantity of carbonic acid, and 

 voids more urea, than the man who, by luxurious and 

 indolent tranquillity, encourages the fat of his body, and 

 an increase of the albuminous substances. 



A real development of strength is inseparably bound 

 up with an active change of matter. ISut change of 

 matter consists of excretion and restitution ; for he who 

 exchanges, receives while he gives. The permanence of 

 the substance does not contribute to the increase of 

 aetivitv. We have already several ti 

 mentioned, that, though the presence of matter is the 

 condition of all activity, yet the rapid movement of this 

 matter only intensifies the manifestation of power. Tho 

 limbs, therefore, if kept at rest, relax; and in return 

 whole advantage of exercise consists in the excretion of 

 the muscles being augmented by their exertion 

 nutrition of the tissue being increased by that a 

 excretion, ami the appetite being run 

 with the necessity of forming new blood 1 by 



the accelerated excretion and nutrition. The rapid 

 change of matter increases the power of the organs, just 

 as the exertion of the limbs promotes tho change of 

 matter, and the increase of muscular po>. 



But to attain this, an abundant restitution is an indis- 

 pensable condition. It is, therefore, equally consistent 



with vcon yas humanity, for those Wno employ labourer.-" 



on heavy work, to satisfy the more frequent, an 

 recurring appetite of their workmen ; for it is 

 tho workman thrives, that the work can prosper. In- 

 sufficient food causes feebleness and in 



er who scantily fee Is his workmen, loses more in the 

 decreased ! their arms, tlrm the alim 



1 cost him which would raise at once tho value of thoir 

 I achievements, and the dignity of their nature. 



