626 VARIOUS THEORIES 



But I have already shown that the Archeus was 

 only another name for the QWIQ of Hippocrates ; 

 while it is equally evident, that the fermentation 

 and maceration of the chemical physicians were 

 merely different names for concoction, which 

 means an action produced by heat. With the 

 exception of the mechanical physicians, who 

 maintained that digestion is the result of tritura- 

 tion by the coats of the stomach, the chemical 

 theory prevailed until the time of Boerhaave, who 

 like a genuine eclectic, referred it to the united 

 agency of gastric liquor, nervous influence, and 

 animal heat. 



Since the time of Boerhaave, physiologists have 

 generally maintained that food is converted into 

 chyme by the solvent power of gastric juice, 

 but under the immediate influence of " the un- 

 known vital principle," which some have iden- 

 tified with the unknown nervous fluid, and others 

 with the equally unknown electric fluid.* That 



* Those who have adopted the electrical theory of life, have 

 vainly attempted the explanation of one mystery by resorting to 

 another. And so highly developed is the organ of wonder, com- 

 pared with the reasoning faculties, that in all ages, the mass of 

 mankind seem to have entertained a profound reverence for what 

 they did not understand, as if simplicity were not the highest 

 attribute of excellence, beauty, and truth. It is also gratifying 

 to the selfish pride of inferior minds, to perceive that there are 

 mysteries which reduce the loftiest intellects to an equality with 

 themselves. With such persons, the simplicity of a new dis- 

 covery derogates from its importance, being apparently so clear 

 and obvious, that they only wonder how it ever could have escaped 

 their own sagacity. 



