INTRODUCTION. 



many others, similar ideas have occurred at about 

 the same time to various persons, showing that a new 

 line of thought is rather an expression of prevailing 

 tendencies than the result of individual effort. I have 

 sought to give a reference to every writer in whom I 

 have met with a decided similarity to my own ideas, 

 in so far as they differ from those ordinarily received ; 

 but in case I have failed in doing this, I wish to state 

 expressly that in publishing them under my own 

 name, I put in no claim to be anything more than 

 their mouthpiece. I have, however, placed at the 

 end of the volume an essay written by me irr 

 the year 1855, and submitted at the time to some 

 eminent scientific men, but not before published. 

 It presents the first form in which the idea of 

 Nutrition suggested itself to me. Of the thirteen 

 chapters which this volume contains, four, though 

 now revised and modified, have appeared before; 

 they are Chapters I., II., IV., and VI. 



JAMES HINTON. 



London, Wth November, 1862. 



