How these varied elements are held together, even
science with all its deep searchings has never told. No
man, by whatsoever combination of elements, has ever
made a living plant, much less a living animal. No bet-
ter comparison has ever been given than that of Youmans,
who makes a table of the analogies between the human
body and the steam-engine, which I give as it stands.
68
THE BODY AND ITS COMPOSITION.
a:n^alogies of the steam-engine and the living
BODY.
The Steam Engine in Action
takes :
1. Fuel: coal and wood, both
combustible.
2. Water for evaporation.
3. Air for combustion.
And Produces:
4. A steady boiling heat of 212°
by quick combustion.
5. Smoke loaded with carbonic
acid and watery vapor.
6. Incombustible ashes.
7. Motive force of simple alter-
nate push and pull in the
piston, which, acting
through wheels, bands, and
levers, does work of endless
variety.
8. A deficiency of fuel, water, or
air, disturbs, then stops the
motion.
The Animal Body in Life takes :
1. Food: vegetables and flesh,
both combustible.
2. Water for circulation.
3. Air for respiration.
And Produces:
4. A steady animal heat, by slow
combustion, of 98°.
5. Expired breath loaded with
carbonic acid and watery
vapor.
6. Incombustible animal refuse.
7. Motive force of simple alter-
nate contraction and relaxa-
tion in the muscles, which,
acting through joints, ten-
dons, and levers, does work
of endless variety.
8. A deficiency of food, drink, or
air, first disturbs, then stops
the motion and the life.
Carrying out this analog}', 3^ou will at once see why a
person working hard with either body or mind requires
more food than the one who does but little. The food
taken into the human bod}' can never be a simple element.
We do not feed on plain, undiluted oxygen or nitrogen ;
and, while the composition of the human body includes
really sixteen elements in all, oxygen is the only one used
in its natural state. I give first the elements as they exist
in a body weighing about one hundred and fifty-four
THE BODY AND ITS COMPOSITION.
69
pounds, this being the average weight of a full-grown
man ; and add a table, compiled from different sources, of
the composition of the bod}' as made up from these ele-
ments. Dry as such details may seem, the^^ are the only
key to a full understanding of the body, and the laws of
the body, so far as the food-supply is concerned ; though
you will quickly find that the da^^'s food means the day's
thought and work, well or ill, and that in your hands is
put a power mightier than 3^ou know, — the power to build
up body, and through body the soul, into a strong and
beautiful manhood and womanhood.
ELEMENTS OF THE HUMAN BODY.
1. Oxygen, a gas, and supporter of combustion,
weighs
2. Carbon, a solid; found most nearly pure in char-
coal. Carbon in the body combines with other
elements to produce carbonic-acid gas, and by
its burning sets heat free. Its weight is .
3. Hydrogen, a gas, is a part of all bone, blood, and
muscle, aiid weighs
i. Nitrogen, a gas, is also part of all muscle, blood,
and bone ; weighing
5. Phosphorus, a solid, found in brain and bones,
weighs
6. Sulphur, a solid, found in all parts of the body,
weighs
7. Chlorine, a gas, found in all parts of the body,
weighs
8. Fluorine, supposed to be a gas, is found with cal-
Page 34
Presented as published in 1881. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
How these varied elements are held together, even science with all its deep searchings has never told. No man, by whatsoever combination of elements, has ever made a living plant, much less a living animal. No better comparison has ever been given than that of Youmans, who makes a table of the analogies between the human body and the steam-engine, which I give as it stands.
analogies of the steam-engine and the living
BODY.
The Steam Engine in Action takes :
1. Fuel: coal and wood, both
combustible.
2. Water for evaporation.
3. Air for combustion.
And Produces:
4. A steady boiling heat of 212°
by quick combustion.
5. Smoke loaded with carbonic
acid and watery vapor.
6. Incombustible ashes.
7. Motive force of simple alternate push and pull in the piston, which, acting through wheels, bands, and levers, does work of endless variety.
8. A deficiency of fuel, water, or
air, disturbs, then stops the motion.
The Animal Body in Life takes :
1. Food: vegetables and flesh,
both combustible.
2. Water for circulation.
3. Air for respiration.
And Produces:
4. A steady animal heat, by slow
combustion, of 98°.
5. Expired breath loaded with
carbonic acid and watery vapor.
6. Incombustible animal refuse.
7. Motive force of simple alternate contraction and relaxation in the muscles, which, acting through joints, tendons, and levers, does work of endless variety.
8. A deficiency of food, drink, or
air, first disturbs, then stops the motion and the life.
Carrying out this analogy, you will at once see why a person working hard with either body or mind requires more food than the one who does but little. The food taken into the human body can never be a simple element. We do not feed on plain, undiluted oxygen or nitrogen ; and, while the composition of the human body includes really sixteen elements in all,oxygen is the only one used in its natural state. I give first the elements as they exist in a body weighing about one hundred and fifty-four
pounds, this being the average weight of a full-grown man ; and add a table, compiled from different sources, of the composition of the body as made up from these elements. Dry as such details may seem, the^^ are the only key to a full understanding of the body, and the laws of the body, so far as the food-supply is concerned ; though you will quickly find that the day's food means the day's thought and work, well or ill, and that in your hands is put a power mightier than you know, — the power to build up body, and through body the soul, into a strong and beautiful manhood and womanhood.
ELEMENTS OF THE HUMAN BODY.
1. Oxygen, a gas, and supporter of combustion,
weighs
2. Carbon, a solid; found most nearly pure in charcoal. Carbon in the body combines with other elements to produce carbonic-acid gas, and by its burning sets heat free. Its weight is .
3. Hydrogen, a gas, is a part of all bone, blood, and
muscle, aiid weighs
i. Nitrogen, a gas, is also part of all muscle, blood, and bone ; weighing
5. Phosphorus, a solid, found in brain and bones,
weighs
6. Sulphur, a solid, found in all parts of the body,
weighs
7. Chlorine, a gas, found in all parts of the body,
weighs
8. Fluorine, supposed to be a gas, is found with cal-