Excerpt from Cincinnati Medical Observer, 1856, Vol. 1 One ingredient, however, as it unquestionably has the lion's share in the composition, has probably, and taking all circum stances into consideration, the greatest influence in producing the effects Observed, namely, the solvent - the vehicle, pharmaco logically speaking - water. Entering in so large a proportion into the composition of the solids, as well as the fluids of the human body, constituting seventy-five per cent. Of the weight Of muscle, upward Of eighty Of brain, and near eighty Of blood, large amounts are daily required, merely to supply the waste and keep the machinery in proper action. It is a very Old axiom, that bodies do not act upon each other (chemically) unless in a state of solution; and more than all things beside does water deserve the name Of the universal solvent. Neither animal nor plant can appropriate alimentary materials, unless they are in a state Of solution, or of very minute division suspended in fluid. N 0 other fluid can replace water in this, its great function Of liquefaction Of such materials, for nutritious purposes. Once introduced into the body, water continues to be their solvent even after they have been further prepared by means of vital chemistry, for the renovation Of the tissues; and when their course is run - their part played on t - and they have become refuse - waste - water again receives them, and conveys them by a most complicated and wonderful system of sewerage alto gether out Of the system. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.