86 CROONIAN LECTURES 



of the differences of opinion on the action of 

 medicines will disappear. 



Perhaps we shall ultimately be able to 

 estimate the increase or diminution of any one 

 motion which, by affecting all other motions in 

 a part or in the whole body, constitutes disease. 

 When the disease arises from increased action, 

 we shall restore that normal quantity and 

 quality of motion in the body on which the 

 health depends, by decreasing the motion or 

 adding to the resistance to conversion; and, 

 when the disease arises from diminished action, 

 we shall attain the same result by increasing 

 the motion or lessening the resistance to con- 

 version. 



With regard to the question where medicines 

 act, the idea of the inseparability of matter 

 and force will probably lead to far broader 

 views than we now hold. 



For want of more definite knowledge, we 

 are almost tempted to assume that medicines 

 have an elective affinity which determines the 

 place where they will act 



If, however, it can bo shown that most 

 medicines pass into every texture of the 

 body, and carry with the matter whatever force 



