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INORGANIC CONSTITUENTS OF CELLS.
The principal inorganic materials of nerve-cells are Magnesia phos,
Kali phos, Natrum and Ferrum. Muscle cells contain the same, with
addition of Kali-mur. Connective tissue cells have for their specific
substance Silica, while that of the etastic tissue-cells is probably
Calcarea flour. In bone cells We have Calcarea fluor, and Magnesia
phos and a large proportion of Calcarea phos. This latter is found
in small quantities in the cells of muscle, nerve, brain and connective
tissue. Cartilage and mucous cells have for their specific inorganic
material Natrum mur. which is found also in all solid and fluid
parts of the body. Hair and the crystalline lens contain among other
inorganic substances, also Ferrum. The carbonates, as' such, are,
according to Moleschott, without any influence in the process of
cell-formation.
HEALTH AND DISEASE
Health may be considered to be the state characterized by the normal
cell metamorphosis; thus, when by means of digestion of food and
drink, recompense is made to the blood for the losses it sustains
by furnishing nutritive material to the tissues, this compensation
is made in requisite quantities and in proper places, and no disturbance
to the motion of the molecules occurs. Under these conditions alone
will the building of new cells and the destruction of old ones proceed
normally, and the elimination of useless materials be futhered.
Disease is the result of a disturbance of the molecular motion
of one of the inorganic tissue salts. The cure consists in the restoration
of the equilibrium of the molecular motion by furnishing a minimal
dose of the same inorganic substance, since the molecules of the
material thus used remedially fill the gap in the chain of molecules
of the affected cell or tissue salt.
Virchow says that disease is an altered state of the cell, and
hence the normal state of the cell constitutes health. The constitution
of the cell is determined by the composition of its nutritive environment
exactly as a plant thrives according to the quality of soil around
its roots.
In agricultnrat chemistry we add as fertilizer that element most
lacking in the soil. Bnt three essential substances used as fertilizers
are required, namely, ammonia, phosphate of lime or potash. The
other substances needful for plant nutrition are found in sufficient
quantities in the soil. The same law of supplying a lack applies
to biochemical remedies; for instance, take the following example:
A child suffering from rickets shows a lack of phosphate of lime
in bones due to the disturbed molecular motion of the molecules
of this salt. The quantity of phosphate of lime intended for the
bones, but failing to reach its goal, would accumulate within the
blood were it not excreted by the urine, for it is the office of
the kidneys to maintain the proper composition of the blood, and,
therefore, to cast out every foreign substance or surplus supply
of any one constituent. Now after the normal molecular motion of
the phosphate of lime molecules is again established within the
involved nutritive soil by -administering small doses of the same
salt, the surplus can again enter the general circulation and the
cure of the rachitis be brought about.
Every normal cell has the faculty of absorbing or rejecting certain
substances. This property is diminished or suspended when the cell
has suffered a loss in one of its salts in consequece of any irritation.
As soon as this deficiency is made good by a supply of a homogeneous
material from the immediate nutritive soil, the equilibrium is re-established.
But if the supply is not offered spontaneously, it is to be assumed
that the needful salt is lacking in quantity, or, on the other hand,
that the diseased cell, have suffered a physical alteration besides
which precludes the entrance of the required tissue salt. In such
a case the salt must be offered in a more diluted state, that is,
a higher trituration or attenuation.
If the altered cells regain their integrity by recovering their
loss, they can again perform their normal functions, and bring about
the removal by chemical processes of morbid products, exudations,
etc. The biochemical therapeutics aids nature in her efforts to
cure by supplying the natura remedies lacking in certain parts,
that is, the inorganic cell salts, and in this way corrects abnormal
states of physiological chemistry.
The aim of biochemistry is to cover a deficiency directly. All
other methods of cure reach this goal indirectly, when they make
use of remedial agents heterogeneous to the constituents of the
human organism.
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