350 THE NATURE AND TREATMENT OF 



mechanism, vary in calibre in exact ratio to the compactness 

 of this, that, and other parts and organs. Hence we find that 

 the cornea of the eye — a dense substance — is entirely com- 

 posed of laminse, — a succession of plates in close contact with 

 each other. On the other hand, a tissue less dense, like that 

 composing the muscles, is said to be more cellular than lami- 

 nal. These portions of the organism constitute what physiolo- 

 gists terra the solids. However dense may be their structure, 

 both laminaa and cells have openings through which liquids 

 pass and enter. 



The body, as a whole, is composed of four elements ; namely, 

 carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. These four primary 

 animal formations coalesce, in persistent proportions, and thus 

 constitute the animal organization, — the solids of the body. 

 The four primary elements above named resolve themselves 

 by varied proportions, into constituent molecules ; thus, as a 

 primary proposition, we have gelatine, or jelly, a substance 

 which can be extracted by the ordinary process of boiling the 

 tendons, bones, capsules of joints, dura mater, cellular tissue, 

 or any other part of the animal organization. In fact, the 

 whole laminated and tendinous structures of the body are 

 chiefly composed of this gelatinous material. 



The presence of gelatine in the animal tissues may be 

 demonstrated as follows ; namely, it is soluble in water, but not 

 in alcohol ; it liquifies by heat, and at a very low temperature 

 it becomes solid, and yet again can be liquified by heat. Gel- 

 atine is composed of thirteen equivalents of carbon, ten of 

 hydrogen, two of nitrogen, and five of oxygen. Its power 

 of forming a jelly is (on cooling) such, that a solution of one 

 part in one hundred of water, will become a consistent solid. 



Next we have albumen, a substance identical with the white 

 of eggs. In a fluid state, it coagulates at about 165*^ of 

 Fahrenheit. Alcohol, various acids, and astringents, also co- 

 agulate it. It abounds in the vegetable as well as animal 

 kingdom. In the former, it abounds in seeds, roots, stalks, 

 and leaves. The body of an adult contains more albumen 

 than that of a young animal. Under the combined action of 



