CHEMISTRY OF MAN. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The proximate constituents of tlie animal body may be divided 

 into two great classes, the mineral and tbe organic; each of 

 wliicli admits of several sub -divisions. 



I. MINERAL CONSTITUENTS. 



The Mineral Constituents may be advantageously classed in 

 three groups, comprising, i. Those "vvhich are of service in the 

 animal body, in consequence of their physical properties ; ii, 

 Those which effect important objects in the system by their 

 chemical actions ; and iii, Those which, being only incidentally 

 present, may be eliminated without exerting any unfavorable 

 effect on the economy. 



CLASS I. CONSTITUENTS USEFUL BY THEIR PHYSICAL 



PROPERTIES. 



1. Water. This substance is so universally diffused, and its 

 uses are so ob\'ious as to render any observations unnecessary. 



2. Phosphate of lime, in the importance of its physical proper- 

 ties to the animal organism, undoubtedly ranks next to water. 

 Phosphate of hme or, as it is often termed, bone-earth, consists 

 of 8 eq. of hme and 3 eq. of phosphoric acid; its empirical formula 

 therefore is 8 Ca O + 3 PO : ])ut there can be no doubt that 



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