According to my judgment it is Von Liebig and Julius Hensel who showed
us the paths we are to take to the field of enquiry most important of
all; for without a sound body all the coveted acquisitions of modern
times are worthless to us.

The solution of the question how to prevent the degeneration of mankind
would be a simple and natural one, if history and proverb had not taught
us that as often as a new truth appears "the very oxen butt their horns
against it." They cannot help this, the "disposition" is natural; for
when Pythagoras had found the Master of Arts, Mathesios, he was so
overjoyed that he sacrificed one hundred oxen to the gods, and ever
since that time oxen are attacked with an hereditary fright whenever a
new truth appears,--the human ox is no exception.

Of what use to us, for instance, are the Roentgen X-rays in diseases of
the nerves when there is a generally diseased condition of the blood,
which, as we now know, is also the primary cause of lung, liver, stomach
and kidney troubles, cancer, scrofula, rheumatism, gout, obesity,
diabetes, and the rest?

In such cases _chemistry_ is necessary, in order to ascertain what
ingredients are missing in the blood; they cannot be detected
microscopically.

What blunders are continually committed in the treatment of nerve
diseases! No one considers the physiological law that _no parts of the
nerves can perform their functions lastingly and naturally unless they
are continually supplied with blood permeated_ with oxygen; and for this
purpose iron is most necessary as an adequate ingredient.