Domestic Encyclopædia (1802)/Body
BODY, in physics, implies an extended, solid, divisible substance, which in itself has no power of motion, but acts by external impulse; it also possesses the properties of attraction and repulsion. Whatever relates to this branch of knowledge, under its various modifications and appearances, through the whole creation, is the subject of physics, or natural philosophy: if it concern the economy of the human body, in particular, and the treatment of its various disorders, it belongs to the province of medicine, or the department of the physician. In this sense, therefore, the term body is used, in opposition to soul, and forms the subject of anatomical research.
There subsists a very close, and, during life, indissoluble connection, between the body and soul; insomuch, that the one partakes of die enjoyments and sufferings of the other. Whatever tends to impart a proper tone and vigour to the body, that is, every impression which is most likely to soothe and harmonize the passions, at the same time contributes to regulate the powers of the understanding, and gives them their due force and energy. Hence, temperate gratifications, as they are highly conducive to these ends, promote the harmony of virtue; for, by contributing to the health and sprightliness of the body, they invigorate the powers of the mind, and check the violence of the passions.
The human body is a machine so artificially and admirably organized for withstanding the various impressions of external agency, or die sudden vicissitudes of heat and cold, dryness and moisture, as well as for performing its various functions, that it bears evident marks of a wise and omnipotent Creator. It is composed of fluids and solids: the principal of the former are, the blood, chyle, saliva, bile, and the gastric liquor; of which the three last mentioned materially promote the digestion of food: the chief of the solids are the bones and cartilages, which give firmness and attitude to the body.
It would lead us too far from the plan of this work, to enter into particulars respecting the complicated and wonderful structure of the human frame: we shall, therefore, only observe, that it ceases to grow in height when the bones arrive at a certain degree of firmness and rigidity, which will not admit of farther extension by the motion of the blood. This period appears to take place between the age of eighteen and twenty-four; but in females, often one or two years earlier than in males. Lastly, it is remarkable, that the height or length of the human body varies at different parts of the day: thus, in the morning, after a long and refreshing sleep, an adult will be found one inch taller than he was in the preceding evening.