Each one of these branches has a distinct part, or function to perform.

The stomach serves as the sorting house. Here the food is mixed with the
gastric juice which aids digestion and dissolves those ingredients
necessary to produce blood, flesh, fat, bones, etc.

Each of the other branches receives that portion of the ingredients
needed to perform its share of the work.

A structure cannot be constructed without a frame upon which every part
depends. In order to stand erect, the body must possess such a
framework. The skeleton is the same to the body as the frame is to the
building. This frame, then, or skeleton, together with the flesh, blood,
etc. are all formed from the material furnished by the food.

A residue of the digested food is removed from the body as useless;
everything else is utilized.

The portion of the food used, therefore, must contain all those
ingredients which go to make up and maintain the body in perfect working
order.

Experience has suggested certain groups of suitable diet which for the
sake of convenience I shall enumerate under the title of _Forms No. I to
No. VI_.

These food forms contain everything of which patients may safely
partake, and from these selection, in each case, must be made.

They are as follows: