OF FUNCTION; OE, HOW WE ACT. 31 



been propounded, which should not be passed over, 

 as it has probably weighed much with some minds. 

 Certain stimulating substances, as alcohol, coffee, or 

 tea, have been found to increase the activity, while 

 they diminish rather than increase the waste, of the 

 body. This question can be properly discussed only 

 after the subject of nutrition has been passed in 

 review^but it may be observed that there are other 

 processes of decomposition going on in the body, 

 besides those on which functional activity depends. 

 It may be that these stimulants diminish that final 

 oxidation, which precedes, more or less completely, 

 the elimination of the waste products from the body. 

 Or it may be, though this is not probable, that these 

 bodies contain more force in a less amount of sub- 

 stance than ordinary food. Of one thing we may 

 be confident, that no articles of diet will give us the 

 means of creating force, or of exerting power except 

 at the expense of the power that is embodied in 

 our food, and so is stored up within. 



And now to what end is this discussion ? What 

 advantage is gained by adopting this view of the 

 vital functions ? First, a great simplification in our 



