67C) TRANSLATIONS TROM CONTINENTAL JOURNALS. 
result is, that the organs recruit themselves at the ex¬ 
pense of” the common mass. The edifice threatened ^vith 
ruin repairs the gaps with its own proper materials. These 
somewhat abstract premises being received, we may 
deduct from them that there are really three distinct 
inodes of alimentation. 1st. The external alimentation by 
substances taken from without; 2nd. The internal, or that 
which during abstinence is effected at the expense of the 
proper materials of the organism; 3rd, and finally, the mixed 
alimentation which is effected at the same time by a small 
but insufficient quantity of food, and by the substances of 
the organism. This distinction, which in ordinary language 
would be a sophism and an absurdity, is however very cor¬ 
rect in a physiological point of view, and it will throw a light 
on the facts which will be shown hereafter. 
It was stated just now that an animal, when not put on abso¬ 
lute diet, subsisted on its own substance. This fact is incon¬ 
testable. We will show that the quantity thus consumed is 
in direct relation to that of the aliments; we will afterwards 
inquire into the causes which actuate or slacken this con¬ 
summation. Experiments will enable one to obtain this in¬ 
formation; viz., on divers animals, the talipeds, the dogs, cats, 
porcupines, birds, and even the invertebrata. First, a horse 
of middle size, weighing 405 kilogrammes, of adult age, and 
well bred, very muscular, vigorous, and in good health, was 
given up by its owner on account of being weak on the 
fore legs. This unfortunate animal was shut up in a 
large stable for a month without food, but was allowed 
water, ad Uhitum^ which was accurately measured. To pre¬ 
vent him eating his litter, a wire muzzle was put on. A 
register was kept of his general state; viz., the pulse, 
respiration, temperature, and the loss of weight. In thirty 
days he drank 42 litres of water—about 1 litre 4 decilitres 
a day; his weight had decreased 80 kilogrammes, or 2666 
grammes in every twenty-four hours; in fact, one fifth of the 
original weight. As animals deprived of food lose nearly 
three fifths of their weight before death from starvation sets in, 
this horse had still two fifths left; his provision was therefore 
far from being exhausted. This animal had thus consumed 
of what I have called his internal alimentation a daily ration 
of 2666 grammes of flesh and 1400 grammes of water; that 
is, for every kilogramme of the living weight a ration of 
6 grammes 58 centigrammes of flesh, and 3 grammes 45 
centigrammes of water. Admitting that one fourth of this 
consisted of fat, the daily ration would be as follows:— 
787*41 grammes of carbon, 115-77 grammes of hydrogen, 
