Organic chemistry proves to us that the
excretae from the body of a healthy subject by the eliminatory organs
must at least amount to twelve or fourteen ounces; and organic chemistry
will not, we fear, bend to the most inspired receipts of the most
miraculous cookery book, to supply the number of ounces without which
the organic chemistry of the human body will no more go on than will the
steam-engine without fuel. M. Soyer, supposing each meal of his soup for
the poor to amount to a quart, supplies less than three ounces, or less
than a quarter the required amount, and of that only one solitary half
ounce of animal aliment, diluted, or rather dissolved in a bellyful of
water. Bulk of water, the gastronomic may depend, will not make up for
the deficiency of solid convertible aliment. No culinary digesting, or
stewing, or boiling, can convert four ounces into twelve, unless,
indeed, the laws of animal physiology can be unwritten, and some magical
power be made to reside in the cap and apron of the cook for
substituting fluids in the place of solids, and _aqua pura_ in place of
solids in the animal economy.
"It seems necessary to bring forward these facts, as M.
Pages:
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706