Med Service by Murray Leinster — Read

"Very much of physical science is merely the comprehension of long-observed facts. In human conduct, there is a long tradition of observation, but a very brief record of comprehension. For example, human life in contact with other human lives follows the rules of other ecological systems. All too often, however, a man may imagine that an ecological system is composed only of things, whereas such a system operates through the actions of things. It is not possible for any part of an ecological complex to act upon the other parts without being acted upon, in its turn. So that it is singularly stupid -- and singularly common -- for an individual to consider human society as passive and unreactive, so that he may do what he pleases without a reaction as energetic as his action, and as well-directed. Moreover, probability. " _Probability and Human Conduct_ Fitzgerald

An hour after sunrise Calhoun's shoulder-pack was empty of food. The refugees arose, and they were weak and ravenous. Their respiration had slowed to normal. Their pulses no longer pounded. Their eyes were no longer dull, but very bright. But they were in advanced states of malnutrition, and only now were aware of it. Their brains were again receiving adequate oxygen and their metabolism was at a normal level -- and they knew that they were starving.