Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1836-10-26
MISCELLANEOUS.
RECIPROCAL ACTION BETWEEN THE
SKIN AND OTHER ORGANS.


SKIN AND OTHER ORGANS.
In tracing the connexion between sup
pressed perspiration and the production of
individual diseases, we shall find that
those organs which possess some similar
ity of function sympathize most closely
with each other. Thus the skin, the bow
els, the lungs, the liver, and the kidneys
symPathize readily, because they have all
the common office of throwing waste mat
ter out of the system, each in way pecul-
lar to its own structure; SO that if the ex-
halation from the skin, for example, be
stopped by long exposure to cold, the
large quantity ofwaste which it was charg-
ed to excrete, and which in itself is hurt
full to the system, will most probably be
thrown upon one or other Of the above
named organs, whose function will conse-
quent1y become excited; and if any of
them, from constitutional or accidental
causes, be already weaker than the rest,
as often happens, its health will naturally
be the first to suffer. In this way, the
bowels become irritated in Que individual,
and occasion bowel complaint; whi.e in
another it is the lungs which become af-
fected, giving rise to catarrh or common
cold, or perhaps even to inflammation
When, on the other hand, all these or
gans are in state of vigorous health,
temporary increase of function takes place
in them, and relieves the system, without
leading to any local disorder; and the
skin itself speedily resumes it's activity,
and restores the balance between them.
One ofthe most obvious illustrations of
this reciprocity of action is afforded by
any convlvial company seated in a warm
room in cold evening. The heat of the
room, the food and wine and the excite
ment Of the moment, stimulate the skin,
cause an influx of blood to its surface, and
increase in high degree the flow Of the
lnsenslbIe perspiratlon whichthus, while
the heat continues, carries off an undue
share ofthe fluids of the body, and leaves
| the kidneys almost at rest. But the mo-
ment the company goes into the cold ex-
ternaI air, a sudden reversion of opera
tons takes place; the cold chiIIs the sur
face, stops the perspiration, and directs
the current of the blood towards the in
ternal organs, which presently become
exclted,-and, under this excitation the
kidneys, for example, viii. in few min
utes excrete as much Of their peculiar
| fluid as they did in as many of the pre-
ceding hours. The reverse ofthis, again,
is common in diseases obstructino the Sc
cretion from the kidneys; for the perspir-
alton from the skin is then altered in ouan-
tlty and quality, and acquires much oflhe
peculiar smell of the urinary fluid.
when the lungs are the weak parts
ana their lining membrane is habituallv
relaxed accompanied by an unusual
amount OF mucous secretion from its sur.
face, cold applied to the skin throws the
mass of the blood previously circulating
there Inward upon the lungs, and increas.
es that secretion to high degree. Were
THIS secretion TO accumulate, it would Soon
f1Il up the air-cells Of the lungs. and canse
suftocatlon; but to obviate this dancer the
Creator has so constituted the LUNGS, that
any foreign body coming in Contact Win
them excitcs the convoIsive effort c,llcd |
coughing by which a violent and rapid !
expiration takes place, with force suffi.
cient to hurry the foreign body along with
It, Just as peas are discharged BY bows
with much force through short tubes hv 7
sudden effort Of blowing. Thus, a check
given to perspiration, BY diminishing the
quantity of blood previously circulating
on the surface, naturally leads very often
to increased expectoration and cough, or
IN other words. to common coId.-Combe's
Physiology.
DEcEPT1oN IN TRADE.-A gentleman
offered certain trader an article of mer-
chanlise, which he wishedto exchange for
other goods. The trader, taking advan-
tage OF the mans circumstances, pretend
ed not to want the article, unGervaIued it,
&c. and stated besides, that it was of so
mean a quality, that he never could re-
commend it. At last, however, he con-
scented to take it, at a very reduced price,
and the man, from necessity, accepted his
offer The article was ACCORDINGLY ex-
posed for sale on the shelf The next day,
a person came in wishing to purchase an
article ofthe same kind The merchant
threw down this, stating that it was the
only one he bad, and that this was Of
superior quality His little son, who
happened to be present. and remembered
his father s conversation when the article
was purchased, hearing him now recon-
mend 1t, went to him with apparent con-
Germ, aud said, Pa don't the great God
hear every thing! Yes.-Pa did he
hear you talk yesterday, and does He, re-.
member whatyou said? Go away, replied
the father. 0uere. Does not Omnisci-
ence detect among traders many instances
like this, IN which conscience is sacrificed
for interest