130 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
absolute health in which all the functions and structures are 
in exact relation to each other, and to the circumstances under 
which thev are acting:. Such a condition can only exist when 
there is an inherent force in the organism, fostered by the 
various vital stimuli, viz., light, heat, and the atmosphere, 
which are absolute necessaries of existence, in addition to 
the food or aliment which supplies the waste of the tissues. 
Health, being dependent upron so many conditions, is rarely, 
or perhaps never, a persistent state. Such various causes of 
disease are found in the atmosphere which an animal may be 
compelled to inspire, in temperature, in the food, and in 
manv of the circumstances of domestication, and even in 
nature, that defective tonicity of the system, or, in other 
words, disturbance of the healthy condition, is occasionally 
inevitable. No organic disease may occur, nor, probably, is 
any single function particularly affected, but the ordinary 
vivacity, the power of endurance, the capability of assimilating 
the food, are gone; the animal is dull, easily fatigued, and, in 
spite of the nutriment conveyed into the stomach, no improve¬ 
ment in the condition follows. 
Before attempting to treat such a state of system, it will be 
obviously necessary to examine the causes which are generally 
easily found, either in the atmosphere, the animal's work, or 
in a present or previous disease. In the event of the debili¬ 
tating influences being confined to the ordinaiy circumstances 
of the animal's management, the cure may probably be effected 
by a simple alteration of diet. A more liberal regime, more 
carefully regulated work, and better drainage or ventilation, 
may be followed by the return of health, presuming that a 
sufficient amount of vitality be left in the animal’s organism. 
If a present disease occasion the defect, its cure will be, of 
course, a primary consideration. 
The paramount object, in cases of defective tone, is to im¬ 
prove the digestive powers, without whose aid our efforts to 
improve the condition will be futile. We may convey nutri¬ 
ment into the stomach, but no particular advantage will 
follow unless it be properly assimilated. The absence of 
appetite may be taken as an indication that the digestive 
organs are not equal to the appropriation of food, which the 
animal instinctively refuses to take. Under such circum¬ 
stances, that is to say, when the appetite fails, or the system 
is unable to assimilate the nutriment swallowed, “ tonics" are 
indicated. 
Agents distinguished by the property of increasing the 
“ tone" of the organism are both mineral and vegetable in 
their origin. As mineral tonics, we may enumerate the salts of 
