In the human body a nutritious fluid is prepared from the
food, and supplies materials for growth and repair. This fluid
is the blood, and when examined under the microscope is found
to consist of a clear colorless fluid, of a saline, alkaline, and
albuminous nature, and an immense number of infinitely minute
blood globules, or corpuscles. These corpuscles consist of an
albuminous membrane called globulin, filled with a red coloring
matter, hematine, in which there is much iron.
This liquid albuminous portion of the blood must be^changed
to fibrine before it can nourish the muscles of the body. The
The Boston Cook Book.
A77
change of the gluten, caseine, and all the varieties of albuminous
food into fibrine is a gradual process, begun in the lacteals, con-
tinued in the circulation of the blood, and completed in the lungs
by the oxygen which they receive in breathing. This fibrine
remains in the liquid state, owing to the alkaline nature of the
blood, and is distributed by the circulation into all parts of the
structure, where it gradually coagulates into a netwoi k of tough
thread-like fibres, enclosing in its meshes the blood corpuscles,
and is changed by cell growth into new tissue, solid flesh and
bone.
The nervous system is also built and repaired from albumen.
Nervous matter is about seven per cent albumen, and is the
material by which w^e are put into relation with the external
world. By it we see, hear, feel, taste, smell, and are conscious
of existence.
Each elementary cell or particle of tissue, whether of bone,
flesh, or nerves, seems to have a sort of gland-like power, not
only of attracting materials from the blood, but of causing them
to assume its structure and participate in its properties. The
bones and teeth select and appropriate the phosphates of lime,
and magnesia, also fluorine. The muscles and nerves take
fibrine, phosphates of magnesia, and potash. The cartilages
seek for soda; the hair, skin, and nails are made up of silica.
Iron is needed in the coloring matter of the blood, the black
pigment of the eye, and in the hair. Sulphur exists in the hair,
and phosphorus in the brains. The glands of the mouth take
the substances necessary to form saliva; those of the eye, the
elements of tears; the coats of the stomach, gastric juice; and
the liver, bile. Each part of the body has the power to select,
from the common supply, the material which suits it best for
building and growing.
If the conversion of albumen into fibrine be incomplete, the
tissues are imperfectly nourished. The formation of tubercles
in the lungs is caused by half-formed cells and coagulated albu-
men deposited in the lungs. This is caused by a deficiency of
the oily matter, which is necessary for the perfect formation of
cells and the growth of healthy tissue. Hence for these cases
physicians prescribe cod-liver oil.
Distilled spirits coagulate the albumen which ought to go
into the blood; this prevents the proper digestion of food, and
causes one of the great evils resulting from their use. The ner-
vous tissue is thus deprived of nourishment, which is one of the
causes of delirium tremens.
47^ The Boston Cook Book.
Every twinge of pain in neuralgia is the nerves cryinq* out
for better blood. Imperfect digestion and assimilation of food
are the chief causes of neuralgia.
Page 284
Presented as published in 1884. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
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In the human body a nutritious fluid is prepared from the
food, and supplies materials for growth and repair. This fluid
is the blood, and when examined under the microscope is found
to consist of a clear colorless fluid, of a saline, alkaline, and
albuminous nature, and an immense number of infinitely minute
blood globules, or corpuscles. These corpuscles consist of an
albuminous membrane called globulin, filled with a red coloring
matter, hematine, in which there is much iron.
This liquid albuminous portion of the blood must be^changed
to fibrine before it can nourish the muscles of the body. The
The Boston Cook Book.
A77
change of the gluten, caseine, and all the varieties of albuminous
food into fibrine is a gradual process, begun in the lacteals, con-
tinued in the circulation of the blood, and completed in the lungs
by the oxygen which they receive in breathing. This fibrine
remains in the liquid state, owing to the alkaline nature of the
blood, and is distributed by the circulation into all parts of the
structure, where it gradually coagulates into a netwoi k of tough
thread-like fibres, enclosing in its meshes the blood corpuscles,
and is changed by cell growth into new tissue, solid flesh and
bone.
The nervous system is also built and repaired from albumen.
Nervous matter is about seven per cent albumen, and is the
material by which w^e are put into relation with the external
world. By it we see, hear, feel, taste, smell, and are conscious
of existence.
Each elementary cell or particle of tissue, whether of bone,
flesh, or nerves, seems to have a sort of gland-like power, not
only of attracting materials from the blood, but of causing them
to assume its structure and participate in its properties. The
bones and teeth select and appropriate the phosphates of lime,
and magnesia, also fluorine. The muscles and nerves take
fibrine, phosphates of magnesia, and potash. The cartilages
seek for soda; the hair, skin, and nails are made up of silica.
Iron is needed in the coloring matter of the blood, the black
pigment of the eye, and in the hair. Sulphur exists in the hair,
and phosphorus in the brains. The glands of the mouth take
the substances necessary to form saliva; those of the eye, the
elements of tears; the coats of the stomach, gastric juice; and
the liver, bile. Each part of the body has the power to select,
from the common supply, the material which suits it best for
building and growing.
If the conversion of albumen into fibrine be incomplete, the
tissues are imperfectly nourished. The formation of tubercles
in the lungs is caused by half-formed cells and coagulated albu-
men deposited in the lungs. This is caused by a deficiency of
the oily matter, which is necessary for the perfect formation of
cells and the growth of healthy tissue. Hence for these cases
physicians prescribe cod-liver oil.
Distilled spirits coagulate the albumen which ought to go
into the blood; this prevents the proper digestion of food, and
causes one of the great evils resulting from their use. The ner-
vous tissue is thus deprived of nourishment, which is one of the
causes of delirium tremens.
47^ The Boston Cook Book.
Every twinge of pain in neuralgia is the nerves cryinq* out
for better blood. Imperfect digestion and assimilation of food
are the chief causes of neuralgia.