HEALTH AND THE LAWS OF MECHANICS 141 



which, being normal, increase their production 

 until they are noxious for instance, the excess 

 of uric acid, that which gives rise to rheumatic 

 phenomena from its accumulation in the system. 



Any loss of heat, which is also a loss of force, 

 represents an equivalent alteration in the chemical 

 mechanics, an alteration that will reveal itself in the 

 blood under the form of a toxic product, propor- 

 tional to the alteration of the chemical work. Such 

 a momentary loss of heat without compensation 

 will suffice to upset the formula N 7 in a rheumatic 

 person, and the kind of variation in this case will 

 produce a great quantity of uric acid, which will 

 alter all the secretions, and hence that series of 

 disturbances of the mucous membrane which may 

 give rise to both bronchial and intestinal catarrh, 

 or to nephritis, according to the individual organic 

 conditions or susceptibilities. It is equally clear 

 that the uric acid accumulates in the articulations 

 or the muscles, producing the pains peculiar to 

 rheumatism. Here may be originated the vaso- 

 motor phenomena to help the organism to recover 

 its equilibrium ; but as uric acid paralyses them, 

 hence follow congestions which may vary from 

 simple pulmonary hypersemia to pneumonia. 

 What is said of rheumatic subjects applies also to 

 gouty, diabetic, and others. 



Let us take the experience of hunger. Here the 



