NUTRITIVE FUNCTIONS. 287 



which generates life force itself. Even the force neces- 

 sary for anabolism seems to be generated by katabolism. 

 The truth of this proposition we are not yet prepared to 

 prove, but will do so hereafter. 



The whole subject of the nutritive functions i. e., 



all the functions concerned in the conservation of the 

 life and health of the individual — divides itself naturally 

 into three parts, viz., ascensive, distributive, and descensive. 

 The first is anabolic, the second intermediate, and the 

 third katobolic. The first includes all the processes 

 from crude food to finished tissue ; the third, all the pro- 

 cesses from perfect tissue through all its changes by 

 decomposition to final elimination from the body as 

 waste ; the second, or intermediate, all the processes 

 whereby food is distributed to all parts of the body and 

 also all waste is distributed, each kind to its appropriate 

 organ of elimination. Briefly, they may be called food 

 preparation, food and waste distribution, and waste re- 

 moval. Each is concerned with a distinct system of or- 

 gans — the first with the digestive system, the second with 

 the blood system, and the third with the excretory system. 



