26 DEATH CAUSED BY RESPIRATION. 



degree of exercise, as in labor or exertion of any kind, 

 on the temperature of the air, and finally, on the pres- 

 ence or absence of water. Through the skin and lungs 

 there escapes a certain quantity of water, and as the 

 presence of water is essential to the continuance of the 

 vital motions, its dissipation hastens death. Cases have 

 occurred, in which a full supply of water being accessi- 

 ble to the sufferer, death has not occurred till after the 

 lapse of twenty days. In one case, life was sustained 

 in this way for the period of sixty days. 



In all chronic diseases death is produced by the same 

 cause, namely, the chemical action of the atmosphere. 

 When those substances are wanting, whose function in 

 the organism is to , support the process of respiration ; 

 when the diseased organs are incapable of performing 

 their proper function of producing these substances ; 

 when they have lost the power of transforming the food 

 into that shape in which it may, by entering into combi- 

 nation with the oxygen of the air, protect the system 

 from its influence, then, the substance of the organs 

 themselves, the fat of the body, the substance of the 

 muscles, the nerves, and the brain, are unavoidably con- 

 sumed. * 



The true cause of death in these cases is the respira- 

 tory process, that is, the action of the atmosphere. 



A deficiency of food, and a want of power to con- 

 vert the food into a part of the. organism, are both, 



* For an account of what really takes place in this process, I refer 

 to the considerations on the means by which the change of matter is 

 effected in the body of the carnivora, which will be found further on. 



