VII.
THE CARE OF HEALTH.
THERE is no point where a woman is more liable to suffer from a want
of knowledge and experience than in reference to the health of a family
committed to her care. Many a young lady who never had any charge of the
sick; who never took any care of an infant; who never obtained
information on these subjects from books, or from the experience of
others; in short, with little or no preparation, has found herself the
principal attendant in dangerous sickness, the chief nurse of a feeble
infant, and the responsible guardian of the health of a whole family.
The care, the fear, the perplexity of a woman suddenly called to
these unwonted duties, none can realize till they themselves feel it, or
till they see some young and anxious novice first attempting to meet
such responsibilities. To a woman of age and experience these duties
often involve a measure of trial and difficulty at times deemed almost
insupportable; how hard, then, must they press on the heart of the young
and inexperienced !
There is no really efficacious mode of preparing a woman to take a
rational care of the health of a family, except by communicating that
knowledge in regard to the construction of the body and the laws of
health which is the basis of the medical profession. Not that a woman
should undertake the minute and extensive investigation requisite for a
physician; but she should gain a general knowledge of first principles,
as a guide to her judgment in emergencies when she can rely on no other
aid.
With this end in view, in the preceding chapters some portions of
the organs and functions of the human body have been presented, and
others will now follow in connection with the practical duties which
result from them.
On the general subject of health, one recent discovery of science
may here be introduced as having an important relation to every organ
and function of the body, and as being one to which frequent reference
will be made; and that is, the nature and operation of
cell-life.
By the aid of the microscope, we can examine the minute construction
of plants and animals, in which we discover contrivances and operations,
if not so sublime, yet more wonderful and interesting, than the vast
systems of worlds revealed by the telescope.
By this instrument it is now seen that the first formation, as well
as future changes and actions, of all plants and animals are
accomplished by means of small cells or bags containing various kinds of
liquids. These cells are so minute that, of the smallest, some hundreds
would not cover the dot of a printed i
on this page. They are of diverse shapes and contents, and perform
various different operations.
 The first formation of every animal is accomplished by the agency of
cells, and may be illustrated by the egg of any bird or fowl. The
exterior consists of a hard shell for protection, and this is lined with
a tough skin, to which is fastened the yelk, (which means the
yellow,) by fibrous strings, as
seen at a, a, in the diagram. In
the yelk floats the germ-cell, b,
which is the point where the formation of the future animal commences.
The yelk, being lighter than the white, rises upward, and the germ being
still lighter, rises in the yelk. This is to bring both nearer to the
vitalizing warmth of the brooding mother.
[Illustration: A diagram showing the inside of an egg, with the
various parts of the egg labeled.]
New cells are gradually formed from the nourishing yelk around the
germ, each being at first roundish in shape, and having a spot near the
centre, called the nucleus. The reason why cells increase must remain a
mystery, until we can penetrate the secrets of vital force--probably
forever. But the mode in which they multiply is as follows: The first
change noticed in a cell, when warmed into vital activity, is the
appearance of a second nucleus within it, while the cell gradually
becomes oval in form, and then is drawn inward at the middle, like an
hour-glass, till the two sides meet. The two portions then divide, and
two cells appear, each containing its own germinal nucleus. These both
divide again in the same manner, proceeding in the ration of 2, 4, 8,
16, and so on, until most of the yelk becomes a mass of cells.
The central point of this mass, where the animal itself commences to
appear, shows, first, a round-shaped figure, which soon assumes form
like a pear, and then like a violin. Gradually the busy little cells
arrange themselves to build up heart, lungs, brain, stomach, and limbs,
for which the yelk and white furnish nutriment. There is a small bag of
air fastened to one end inside of the shell; and when the animal is
complete, this air is taken into its lungs, life begins, and out walks
little chick, all its powers prepared, and ready to run, eat, and enjoy
existence. Then, as soon as the animal uses its brain to think and feel,
and its muscles to move, the cells which have been made up into these
parts begin to decay, while new cells are formed from the blood to take
their place. Thus with life commences the constant process of decay and
renewal all over the body.
 The liquid portion of the blood consists of material formed from
food, air, and water. From this material the cells of the blood are
formed: first, the white cells, which are incomplete in formation; and
then the red cells, which are completed by the addition of the oxygen
received from
air in the lungs. Fig. 49 represents part of a magnified blood-vessel,
a, a, in which the round cells
are the white, and the oblong the red cells, floating in the blood.
Surrounding the blood-vessels are the cells forming the adjacent
membrane, b b, each having a
nucleus in its centre.
[Illustration: An illustration of a blood vessel with surrounding
tissue. The blood cells and body cells are shown in some detail, and
several parts are labeled with italicized letters.]
Cells have different powers of selecting and secreting diverse
materials from the blood. Thus, some secrete bile to carry to the liver,
others secrete saliva for the mouth, others take up the tears, and still
others take material for the brain, muscles, and all other organs. Cells
also have a converting power, of taking one kind of matter from the
blood, and changing it to another kind. They are minute chemical
laboratories all over the body, changing materials of one kind to
another form in which they can be made useful.
Both animal and vegetable substances are formed of cells. But the
vegetable cells take up and use unorganized or simple, natural matter;
whereas the animal cell only takes substances already organized into
vegetable or animal life, and then changes one compound into another of
different proportions and nature.
These curious facts in regard to cell-life have important relations
to the general subject of the care of health, and also to the cure of
disease, as will be noticed in following chapters.
THE NERVOUS SYSTEM.
There is another portion of the body, which is so intimately
connected with every other that it is placed in this
chapter as also having reference to every department in the general
subject of the care of health.
 The body has no power to move itself, but is a collection of
instruments to be used by the mind in securing various kinds of
knowledge and enjoyment. The organs through which the mind thus operates
are the brain and
nerves. The drawing (Fig. 50)
represents them.
[Illustration: An illustration of the human nervous system, showing
the brain, spinal cord, and a number of branching nerves.]
The brain lies in the skull, and is divided into the large or upper
brain, marked 1, and the small or lower brain, marked 2. From the brain
runs the spinal marrow through the spine or backbone. From each side of
the spine the large nerves run out into innumerable smaller branches to
every portion of the body. The drawing shows only some of the larger
branches. Those marked 3 run to the neck and organs of the chest; those
marked 4 go to the arms; those below the arms, marked 3, go to the
trunk; and those marked 5 go to the legs.
The brain and nerves consist of two kinds of nervous matter--the
gray, which is supposed to be
the portion that originates and controls a nervous fluid which imparts
power of action; and the white,
which seems to conduct this fluid to every part of the body.
The brain and nervous system are divided into distinct portions,
each having different offices to perform, and each acting independently
of the others; as, for example, one
portion is employed by the mind in thinking, and in feeling pleasurable
or painful mental emotions; another is moving the muscles; while the
nerves that run to the nose, ears, eyes, tongue, hands, and surface
generally, are employed in seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and
feeling all physical sensations.
The back portion of the
spinal marrow and the nerves that run from it are employed in
sensation, or the
sense of feeling. These nerves
extend over the whole body, but are largely developed in the network of
nerves in the skin. The front
portion of the spinal marrow and its branches are employed in moving
those muscles in all parts of the body which are controlled by the
will or
choice of the mind. These are
called the nerves of motion.
The nerves of sensation and nerves of motion, although they start
from different portions of the spine, are united in the same
sheath or
cover, till they terminate in
the muscles. Thus, every muscle is moved by nerves of motion; while
alongside of this nerve, in the same sheath, is a nerve of sensation.
All the nerves of motion and sensation are connected with those portions
of the brain used when we think, feel, and choose. By this arrangement
the mind knows what is wanted in
all parts of the body by means of the nerves of sensation, and then it
acts by means of the nerves of
motion.
For example, when we feel the cold air on the skin, the nerves of
sensation report to the brain, and thus to the mind, that the body is
growing cold. The mind thus knows that more clothing is needed, and
wills to have the eyes look for
it, and the hands and feet move to get it. This is done by the nerves of
sight and of motion.
Next are the nerves of involuntary
motion, which move all those parts of the head, face, and body
that are used in breathing, and in other operations connected with it.
By these we continue to breathe when asleep, and whether we will to do
so or not. There are also some of the nerves of
voluntary motion that are mixed with these, which enable the mind to
stop respiration, or to regulate it to a certain extent. But the mind
has no power to stop it for any great length of time.
There is another large and important system of nerves called the
sympathetic or
ganglionic system. It consists
of small masses of gray and white nervous matter, that seem to be small
brains with nerves running from them. These are called
ganglia, and are arranged on
each side of the spine, while small nerves from the spinal marrow run
into them, thus uniting the sympathetic system with the nerves of the
spine. These ganglia are also distributed around in various parts of the
interior of the body, especially in the intestines, and all the
different ganglia are connected with each other by nerves, thus making
one system. It is the ganglionic system that carries on the circulation
of the blood, the action of the capillaries, lymphatics, arteries, and
veins, together with the work of secretion, absorption, and most of the
internal working of the body, which goes forward without any knowledge
or control of the mind.
Every portion of the body has nerves of sensation coming from the
spine, and also branches of the sympathetic or ganglionic system. The
object of this is to form a sympathetic communication between the
several parts of the body, and also to enable the mind to receive,
through the brain, some general knowledge of the state of the whole
system. It is owing to this that, when one portion of the body is
affected, other portions sympathize. For example, if one part of the
body is diseased, the stomach may so sympathize as to lose all appetite
until the disease is removed.
All the operations of the nervous system are performed by the
influence of the nervous fluid, which is generated in the gray portions
of the brain and ganglia. Whenever a nerve is cut off from its
connection with these nervous centres, its power is gone, and the part
to which it ministered becomes lifeless and incapable of motion.
The brain and nerves can be overworked, and can also suffer for want
of exercise, just as the muscles do. It is necessary for the perfect
health of the brain and nerves that the several portions be exercised
sufficiently, and that no part be exhausted by over-action. For example,
the nerves of sensation may be very much exercised, and the nerves of
motion have but little exercise. In this case, one will be weakened by
excess of work, and the other by the want of it.
It is found by experience that the proper exercise of the nerves of
motion tends to reduce any extreme susceptibility of the nerves of
sensation. On the contrary, the neglect of such exercise tends to
produce an excessive sensibility in the nerves of sensation.
Whenever that part of the brain which is employed in thinking,
feeling, and willing, is greatly exercised by hard study, or by
excessive care or emotion, the blood tends to the brain to supply it
with increased nourishment, just as it flows to the muscles when they
are exercised. Over-exercise of this portion of the brain causes
engorgement of the blood-vessels. This is sometimes indicated by pain,
or by a sense of fullness in the head ; but oftener the result is a
debilitating drain on the nervous system, which depends for its supply
on the healthful state of the brain.
The brain has, as it were, a fountain of supply for the nervous
fluid, which flows to all the nerves, and stimulates them to action.
Some brains have a larger, and some a smaller fountain; so that a degree
of mental activity that would entirely exhaust one, would make only a
small and healthful drain upon another.
The excessive use of certain portions of the brain tends to withdraw
the nervous energy from other portions; so that when one part is
debilitated by excess, another fails by neglect. For example, a person
may so exhaust the brain power in the excessive use of the nerves of
motion by hard work, as to leave little for any other faculty. On the
other hand, the nerves of feeling and thinking may be so used as to
withdraw the nervous fluid from the nerves of motion, and thus
debilitate the muscles.
Some animal propensities may be indulged to such excess as to
produce a constant tendency of the blood to a certain portion of the
brain, and to the organs connected with it, and thus cause a constant
and excessive excitement, which finally becomes a disease. Sometimes a
paralysis of this portion of the brain results from such an entire
exhaustion of the nervous fountain and of the overworked nerves.
Thus, also, the thinking portion of the brain may be so overworked
as to drain the nervous fluid from other portions, which become
debilitated by the loss. And in this way, also, the overworked portion
may be diseased or paralyzed by the excess.
The necessity for the equal
development of all portions of the brain by an appropriate
exercise of all the faculties of
mind and body, and the influence of this upon happiness, is the most
important portion of this subject, and will be more directly exhibited
in another chapter.
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