Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1830-05-11

cut through the skin. 5@
We are glad to find that proper suirir, &,
cency has so regulated the mode of exhibnonn :.
Mr.. Caluin Edison, in quite different w,vs
that which was adopted in London, of the .l ESR
ton Claude ambrose Seurat, who was IN '
shown stark naked. Such view would h.
pugnant and unnecessary. When one recnr.'
the upper part of skeleton, and can bes;ds.
brace the arms, legs. and thighs, simply bv ;ea
ing his thumb to the index, and raising tbsn! '~
and down without separating them, as unn, p
German flute; in fine, when receiving sa a..
shake of the hand of Mr.. Edison, one feel ".'E
his own, like cold handle of polished sr.sI 4"
/, not that sufficient? is he not great curio.rt
and phenomenon which leads US ito the ::
materiality of the soul and of life:" "'
But let US have now some philosophy q, i
case, and come at some physiological concIu,o. u'
Three questions seems to arise from the r,Ua'
1. What can be the diagnosis of such dsas'
eracv of the human body, and what could fs+,
been the cause of it:
O. What further injury can it inaict unoD :,
or upon life?
8. What remedy might alleviate Or remOv, i.
pmao
ton results from the progressive abolition of1.
alveolar or cellular system, meaning what is c,N
ed the adipoSe as we'll as the reiicular mem,
branes. This systemis well known by anatomii,,,
to be contiguous from head to foot, and from nm
der the skin into the Utmost recesses of the human
body, for different purposes accessory to Upr
health. comfort, locomotion and labor. On.
only we will mention as sufficient to prove to all
kinds of understandings. principal benef, arj.
ing from that well organised system. In il,
substance is deposited called adeps, or fat, aN
perfuous part of our nutriment, which IN caseci
necessity can be returned to the circulating H.
ids, to sustain life through various wants and d.
eases. Man is created superior, by his reas.
and perceptions, to all other animals: there va,
no end to what he could or must do upon ,hr
earth, his dominion, nor to whatever he he migt,
derive from his accessory system for his intense
thinking, for his mechanical industry, for his 10.
comotion, and for all labor he might undertake
or could accomplish, even to be rendered as h,
noblest animal in nature, the cOmeliest the hand
soonest. But how could the al, collar and c,lQpG
system be withered or destroyed? Why, if what
we call system is absolutely necessary for lie,
there cannot be many ways for his destruction;
but if it is only accessory, there can be as many
and different causes for its gradual destruction,
as there are which concur to our health or comfort
to famine and starvation, sudden changes Of
contrasts of temperature, violent feyers, which
sometimes cause the loss of hair, and nails, and
what could not in the combination of extema
or internal circumstances detroy or wither ont
organ or one part of our fabric, just as well as
surgeon can by ligature bring the destruction
Of a large tumor, of an artery, oil VEN, or
GLAND, &c.; and the more 50, that as we hav
already said the cellular system is all contiguous
1t has nothing to do with the muscular system
but to protect it; for as long as there is power
motion in man, voluntary or not, the muscuIa
system is entire, although its tibres might be
thin as web.
The second question is plainly answered. D
observing, that human life must be very precar
Gus when it is deprived of all the benefits lrOI
the cellular system, few of which only We couI
feebly describe; and on the third, we will onl
observe, that whatever may be the constitute
of healthy individuals, strong, weak, sang'lln'
bilious, delicate, melancholic, &c. it is alwas
determined by their own organization, and con
seouently could not be altered unless it was 4
the power of human wlsdom-the work se
which God alone can control. The loss OF tA
cellular and adipose or alveolar system, /. d
more irreparable, as there is scarcely one sing
region only which it does not reach.
The case of Claude Ambrose Seurat tror
Troyes, in Champagne, as shewn in London Il
1897, was far more unpleasant and unsghtiy-
he offered most materially impaired skeleton
by the impaired action of the antagonist muscles
deformity or curvatiom of the hands, carPa an
phalanges even Of the scapula over the shoulder,
He was by much younger subject, and an o'd
er skeleton, because his emaciatiOn had com
menced when almost an infant. Still he presear,,
ed an admirable intellect. He wrote sen'U!
letter to certain Editors who had accused o.
keepers with some unfeeling or improper di'po'a
of his body. He had before refused to De pre-
sented to the King of France, lest his bene' ot !;
Majesty might by fostering care lnterie't W" 81
his liberty. This is my reason and autho!i'! ~
saying your faculty had not yet seen ninl' =
Now we have it proved that man can live ~. :,
feel with as little matter of bones and hesn a ~
be tangible or Jumped up, perhaps, into a ; ~s
pounds. should like to know what conc u !: :.
Mr.. Magendie would infer from all this: f'o~
his expose to the Royal Academy OF scleas '.'
respecting the cerebral substance whoa Cur
ponds to lost leg, thigh or arm, &c: mlsp s,, i
not conclude that the loss or abolition IN 'le H.
of man, of such convOlutiOns or foldine' '; !.