Nutriment and form of nutriment, one and many. One, inasmuch as its kind is one; form varies with moistness or dryness. These foods too have their formsOr figures. and quantities; they are for certain things, and for a certain number of things.

It increases, strengthens, clothes with flesh, makes like, makes unlike, what is in the several parts, according to the nature of each part and its original power.

It makes into the likeness of a power, when the nutriment that comes in has the mastery, and when that is mastered which was there to begin with.

It also loses its qualities; sometimes the earlier nutriment, when in time it has been liberated or added, sometimes the later, when in time it has been liberated or added.

Both are weakened in time and after a time by the nutriment from without which has continuously entered in, and for a long time firmly has interwoven itself with all the limbs.