THE BIOLOGY OP DAILY LIFE. 19 



ference with vital functions as possible, but, as before, 

 convenience cannot be principally studied, and Nature 

 always chooses the strongest and least sensitive parts. 

 So far all is plain sailing, but we soon find ourselves 

 stranded in a most extraordinary paradox. What are 

 the strongest and least sensitive to pain and external 

 irritation of all the parts of the body ? We must 

 answer : The strongest and least sensitive parts are the 

 most essential and vital parts. So we have what I may 

 call the PATHOLOGICAL PARADOX (for it is certainly 

 contrary to all our preconceived notions and opinions), 

 that drugs are stowed away in the most essential and 

 vital parts of the body, such as the brain, heart, liver, 

 and osseous system. 



But this tolerance has its limits. It is reached 

 sooner or later if the use of the drug is persisted in. 

 It is true that the continued use of a drug keeps up 

 the state of enforced toleration, because that continued 

 use prevents Nature from attempting the expulsion of 

 the portions of the drug already pent up. Hence 

 comes the fallacious hope of the drug-taker. Drug- 

 taking gives relief by arresting Nature's efforts at 

 expelling the alien diseases and drugs. For pain and 

 sickness usually attend Nature's efforts to expel drugs 

 or diseased matter. 



Hence, I say, comes the temporary relief that has 

 given rise to the proverb, " Take a hair of the dog that 

 bites you" a maxim that applies to all drugs as well 

 as the alcohol or fusel oil of the drunkard.* 



* May we not say that this " dog that bites us" has turned the 

 sign of the Greater Benefic" Jupiter, " ^" into the "R" of 

 the drug-prescriber ? as Shakespeare tells us " That's the dog's 

 name. R is for the dog" (Rom. and Jw/.,*ii., 4). 



