66 FOOD AND DRINK. 



portions: the mineral kingdom furnishes three and one- 

 half pounds, including water and salt; the vegetable king- 

 dom, one and one-half pounds, including bread, vegetables, 

 and fruits; the animal kingdom, one pound, comprising 

 meat, eggs, butter, and the like. This quantity is about 

 one twenty-fourth the weight of the body, as it is generally 

 computed ; the average weight of an adult man being placed 

 at 140 pounds. A man, therefore, consumes an amount of 

 solid and liquid nutriment every twenty-four days equal 

 in weight to that of his body, a corresponding amount 

 being excreted, or removed from the system in the same 

 time. 



7. Renovation of the Body. By this process, so far 

 as weight is concerned, the body might be renewed every 

 twenty-four days; but these pounds of food are not all real 

 nutriment. A considerable portion of that which we eat 

 is innutritions, and though useful in various ways, is not 

 destined to repair the losses of the system. An opinion 

 has prevailed that the body is renewed throughout once in 

 seven years ; how correct this may be it is not easy to 

 decide, but probably the renovation of the body takes 

 place in a much shorter period. Some parts are very 

 frequently renewed, the nutritive fluids changing more or 

 less completely, several times during the day. The muscles, 

 and other parts in frequent exercise, change often during a 

 year ; the bones not so often, and the enamel of the teeth 

 probably never changes after being once fully formed. 



8. Mixed Diet. The habits of different nations in 

 respect to diet exhibit the widest and strangest diversity. 

 The civilized, cook their food, while savages often eat 

 it in a raw state. Some prefer it when fresh, others allow 

 it to remain until it has become tainted with decay. 

 Those dwelling in the far north subsist almost wholly on 



- 7. How often then might the body be renewed? Why is it not? Opinion? 

 How correct ? What further is stated ? 

 8. Habits of nations? Give the different cases. 



