ON MATTER AND FORCE. 79 



The principle of the conservation of energy 

 requires that increased oxidation and nutrition 

 in the inflamed part cannot arise except from 

 an equivalent quantity of some form of motion, 

 or some form of potential energy reaching the 

 part. 



The same principle also requires that the 

 inflammation must continue until the increased 

 motion passes off in heat, or in forming pus, or 

 in some other form of motion or nutrition. 

 Thereby the increased motions subside to the 

 amount which is called health. 



The doctrine of the conservation of energy 

 and the inseparability of matter and force will 

 lead to an entire change not only in physiology 

 and pathology, but also in that most practical 

 part of medicine, therapeutics. 



At present, our knowledge is very confused 

 and uncertain as to how and where medicines 

 act. We almost believe that our medicines 

 have the power not only of creating, but of 

 annihilating force ; and we almost think that 

 they are able to select the part on which they 

 will act, whilst they leave other parts of the 

 body entirely free from their presence. 



