412 ON THE EFfECT OF MADDER ROOT 



More particular Before it was difcovered that madder podefled this property 

 thfdoaii'ne'(ff ^^ ^'"g'^g bones, phyfiologilis had long been of opinion, that 

 the abforption the various parts of the body, being worn out by the perform- 

 and regeneration j^j^pg of their anions and fun6lions, were gradually removed, 

 ot the parts of , ,,, .,^. .,r ^^ ' 



animals, a"d replaced by new materials. They had leen, as Mr. 



J, Bell obferves, the whole olTeous fyflem by the morbid re- 

 moval of its folid part, rendered fo foft and flexible as to bend 

 under the common weight of the body and ordinary adion off- 

 parts ; the regeneration of many bones which had been de- 

 firoyed by difeafe ; the rapid abforption of fat in fome dif- 

 eafes, and its fpeedy reproduftion ; and laftly, the gradual 

 change which the fluids of the body undergo, as well as fome 

 of its infenfible parts, the hair and nails; hence they fuppofed 

 that the fame procefs of change and renovation went on in, 

 every organ, and that the bodies of animals were not compofed 

 of the fame identical particles of which they would confift at 

 —fuppofed to be fome future period. This procefs, which was before but con- 

 confirmed m the jg^^j^^I, or fupported by analogy, phyfiologifts confidered as 

 fully proved by the eflfeds of madder upon the bones. They 

 had by this means an opportunity of feeing the bones altered 

 in colour, from the flighted tint to thedeepeft red; they could 

 cbferve lliis gradually removed, until the bones had regained 

 their natural whit&hefs ; and explaining the whole procefs on 

 the principle of depofilion and abforption, they confidered it 

 as ocular demonltration of a mod rapid change in the confli- 

 tuent elements of a part, of which, from its folidity, they 

 could fcarcely have believed it fufceptible. 

 Probability that I apprehend, however, that it is by giving an erroneous 

 tliis explanation explanation of the phenomena ; by fuppofing that a change in 

 *' ' * theoITeous particles is denoted by an alteration in their colour, 



that phyfiologifts have confidered this fa6t as conclufive. 



However indubitable and well fupported may be the opinion, 

 ■which attributes an imperceptible change to the various parts 

 of the body, we fliall, I believe difcover upon a more clofe 

 evamination, that it is by no means fupported by the appear- 

 ances, which the bones difplay on the exhibition of madder 

 root. The rapid change in their particles, which fuch ap- 

 pearances indicate, when explained in the common way, is com- 

 pletely at variance with all the procelTes performed by the 

 bones, both in their healtiiy and difeafed ftates. Thus we 

 lind the formation of the offific matter, called Callus, for the 

 '■"''■': - ■ ■ . union 



