Human Physiology 



CHAPTER I 



THE STORY OF THE BODY'S CONSTITUTION 



INTRODUCTORY. In investigating the history of a 

 new country one naturally pays attention first of all 

 to the constitution of the land and to the manner in 

 which it is governed and its affairs regulated and 

 controlled. Thus the nature of the government, the 

 duties and privileges of citizens, modes of taxation, 

 and even the past history of the people, are all 

 items necessary to be studied before a full and 

 complete knowledge of a country can be obtained. 

 If we apply this comparison to the case of the 

 human body we shall find many points of similarity 

 between the two studies. It is impossible to gain an 

 adequate idea of such a complex piece of organisa- 

 tion as is represented by the body of any animal 

 of high rank, and more especially that of man, 

 without first of all taking a broad and comprehensive 

 view of its constitution. By constitution, in this 

 sense, is implied the nature of its build and the 

 manner in which its various duties and actions are 

 performed and in which its life is regulated. Far 

 more complicated than any mechanisms of man's 

 own invention are those comprised within the limits 

 of his own frame. Yet it is possible to gain a 

 comprehensive and correct enough idea of our own 

 constitution through considerations which for the 



1 



