Nutrition, the basis of the treatment of disease : the introductory address at the opening of the medical session at University College, London, October 1, 1867 / by Graily Hewitt.

  • Hewitt, Graily, 1828-1893.
Date:
1867
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Nutrition, the basis of the treatment of disease : the introductory address at the opening of the medical session at University College, London, October 1, 1867 / by Graily Hewitt. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    breaks up and distributes to their pristine elements those admirably and elaborately contrived organisms that people the world. Chemistry, which is for a time the slave of the body, silently doing its work, and obeying its behests, becomes finally the master. * While the plant or the animal is enjoying the exuberance of life, the chemical and other changes are only such as result in fresh elaboration, new beauty ; but disease or accident may at any time precipitate that end which always comes sooner or later. Chemistry still operates, though life has leparted, and forthwith busies itself with the dis¬ memberment of the withered and lifeless remains. The vital principle is our great ally in the struggle which we assist the body in maintaining against the inroads of destruction ; its power is great, its en¬ durance almost unbounded. What it is, we know not, nor can we point out the part of the body in which it is specially located ; but so long as it retains its connection with the body—however slightly—so - long life is possible, recovery may be hoped for. We cannot imitate those wonderful processes of formation and growth which take place in the body, however closely we may be able to inspect them. It is not within our power to manufacture artificially a single drop of blood, however well acquainted we may be with the colour, the specific gravity, the