358 POISONS, CONTAGIONS, MIASMS. 



ture upon the organism, a resistance which is, in a 

 certain degree, invincible. It is by the constant 

 neutralisation and renewal of these external influ- 

 ences that life and motion are maintained. 



The greatest wonder in the living organism is the 

 fact that an unfathomable wisdom has made the 

 cause of a continual decomposition or destruction, 

 namely, the support of the process of respiration, 

 to be the means of renewing the organism, and of 

 resisting all the other atmospheric influences, such 

 as those of moisture and changes of temperature. 



When a chemical compound of simple constitu- 

 tion is introduced into the stomach, or any other 

 part of the organism, it must exercise a chemical 

 action upon all substances with which it comes in 

 contact; for we know the peculiar character of 

 such a body to be an aptitude and power to enter 

 into combinations and effect decompositions. 



The chemical action of such a compound is of 

 course opposed by the vital principle. The results 

 produced depend upon the strength of their 

 respective actions ; either an equilibrium of both 

 powers is attained, a change being effected without 

 the destruction of the vital principle, in which case 

 a medicinal effect is occasioned ; or the acting body 

 yields to the superior force of vitality, that is, it is 

 digested ; or lastly, the chemical action obtains the 

 ascendancy and acts as a poison. 



Every substance may be considered as nutriment, 

 which loses its former properties when acted on by 



