Disease / Matt Ridley.

  • Matt Ridley
Date:
1997
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Disease / Matt Ridley. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    47/78 page 39
    The relation now pointed out between the elements of common salt and the organic processes, are certainly '* not the only ones which belong to this compound, so remarkable on account of its universal diffusion in nature, and its presence in all organised beings. It is more than probable that it promotes, nay, even determines, certain changes and operations, by virtue of its peculiar properties as a salt. Liebig illustrates and supports the necessity of a liberal supply of common salt to the animal economy by referring to Boussingault's experiments on six oxen, three of which had their food given them with salt, and the other three without salt (page 409). These experiments are most instructive. In the oxen which only had as much salt as was contained in their fodder, the quantity of salt was insufficient for the secretory process. There was wanting the means of transport for a number of substances which, out of the body, excite *' disgust—their whole frame, the blood, flesh, and all the juices were loaded with these ; for the external surface of the skin is a mirror of the state of the interior. The other oxen, which daily had salt added to their fodder, remained healthy, even in the modes of life to which they were confined, which corresponded but little to their nature, and with excess of food and deficient exercise. Their blood remained pure, and well fitted for all the purposes of nutrition. In the salt they had a powerfiil means of resistance to external causes of disturbance to health, which, in the actual circumstances, was indispensable
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