NUTRITION. 117 



more fatty or other fleshy atoms in the part affected, than the 

 absorbents take away. Physicians are often asked to scatter 

 these tumors. This is done by stimulating the absorbents to 

 a still greater activity than the arteries, so that they may 

 carry away more atoms than the others bring. The glands 

 of the neck in scrofulous persons sometimes swell, and after- 

 wards the swelling disappears. A boil often appears upon 

 the skin with a prominent and painful swelling ; but, without 

 coming to a head, or discharging any matter, it goes away. 

 In both these cases, the tumor is produced by the superior 

 activity of the arteries, and is carried away by the greater 

 action of the absorbents. 



CHAPTER VI. 



The Young have fresh and new Atoms of Flesh. The Aged have 

 old Atoms. Flesh of the Active is new; and of the Idle, old. 

 Blood and Vessels same in all Parts. Vessels select Elements 

 from the Blood, in due Proportion, to form the various Tissues. 

 Unerring Precision of Nutrition. Difference of the Blood in the 

 Arteries and in the Veins. 



256. THIS double work of nutrition and absorption, pro- 

 ducing changes of the component parts of the body, never 

 ceases from the beginning to the end of life. But it is riot 

 equally rapid in all periods, nor in all persons. In the 

 earlier years of childhood and youth, all the processes of 

 animal life are more active, and the particles are more fre- 

 quently changed than in middle life. Consequently, their 

 flesh at these periods is ever new and young. But in old 

 men, all these operations are more sluggishly and feebly car- 

 ried on. Their particles are not frequently changed, and 

 therefore the atoms of their flesh are old, as well as their 

 whole bodies. 



257. As these changes are frequent in the active and in- 

 dustrious, their atoms remain but a short time in the living 

 body, before they are taken away. This gives them a per- 



