Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1840-09-30

and equally SPECIFIC, In relation ia the
properties things, designed to be their
natural and appropriate stimuli. And
hence, the nerves of organic sensibility
belonging to the human stomach, in per
fectly normal and undepraved state, are
endowed with special organic sense, by
which they, with the perfect accurac wand
exquisite delicacy, perceive and appreciate
the specific alirnentary Stimulus of every
Isnbstance received into the gastric cavity,
and INSTANTLY convey the impression1which
they receive, 10 the perception and action
which presides over the function Of the
stomach, and which Immediately calls up
Those powers, requisite for the Performance
fofthe fnrction of thatsorgan, according to
the character Of the stimulus perceived.
] While the stomach is preserved in a
perfectly healthy and undeprayed state, its
lorganic sensibility enables it to detect and
appreciate with the utmost accuracy, both
1.-THE quality Of the stimulus and the degree
lof stimulation; and consequently enables
tito discriminate. with the same accuracy,
between those substances which are best
adapted to the vital interests ofthe system,
and those which are pernicious of often
sive, or even less adapted to the vital
wants. When the quality and quantity
of the substance received into the stomach,
are best adapted to the vital interests of
the system, the stimulation of this organ
is syInpathetically difused over the whole
system and the whole organic domain,
within US, rejoices under its healthful in
/ huence I; and we have an animal and in
ltellectual and, moral consciousness, not
of a local organic stimulation, but of a
general buoyancy of spirlts-and INTEL
Ilectual sprig htliness and moral enjoyment;
and when any ipernicious. or offensive
substance is introduced into the stomach,
this organ in its integrity instantly detects
its character, and if Unnecessary for the Sc
Icurity of the vital interests, promptly gives
the alarm to the whole organic domain,
and when requisite. causes a manifestation
LOT a strong symptoms in the domain of
animal life s
! But this special organic sense Of the
| stomach, like the special animal sense of
taste and smell, may become not only
wholly destitute of the power to perceive
and appreciate the quality of the stimu-
| ius which acts upon it, and to discriminate
tary and those which are pernicions to the
SYSTEM and thus be reduced to the mere
ability to appreciate the degree Of its
stimulation,-bu but it may even be made to
prefer those substances which are decid-
/ eddy pernicious to the vital interests be-
cause, in its depravity, it is SO adapted 10
the stimulating properties of those sub
stances, that it receives from them the
most satisfactory degree of stimulation.
] But the stomach, as we have seen, is
4 too important an organ in the vital econ
! omy, and too directly and powerfully re.
A lated to all the other organs of the system
to sink to this state Of deprayity alone
i BY direct sympathetic irrtations and by
1.-THE deterioration of functional results, the
whole system is made to partake of the
depravity of the stomach; and In this
state of things, substances of the most per.
nicious character, may be babituatiy
Z thrown into he gastric cavity and either
4 rapidly or slowly destroy the constitution
al powers of the system, and work ou
disease and death. And because, tn,
stomach has no longer any power 10 de
: tect and appreciate the true character o
those substances, and therefore has nei
J Their the disposition nor the power to Civ,
any alarm of danger to the organic do
, main, but remains quiet and even satisfied
! with their presence, while they are per
petrating their deeds of death, we, as an
! finals and as intellectual and moral beings
remain wholly unconscious of this stat
q Of things, and earnestly contend for tn,
: safety Of our habits and conditions, on thu
: ground that our stomachs are Statistic
!. with them, and therefore, our experienc
4 proves them to be good. Moreover, j
this general condition of the system, tn
stomach not only loses the power to di:
: criminate between good and evil, and
: give the proper alarm when the vital il
: terests are in jeopardy, but il also, to "
D Nv great extent loses the power of man
a testing true and proper symptoms whe
Al it is itself actually diseased. And it is
ie most fearful fact, that disease may exist
$: the alimentary canal. and gradually ii
q crease for a long time, and even termil
le ate in death, without being manifested I
any Of those symptoms, which lead eth,
the subject, or the physicians to suspect
b. = have found in post mortem examination
ID astonishingly extensive disease pervadir
is the whole stomach and intestines, of
ed lcharacter which indicated a progress
u many years !; and yet the subject was q
rs during life. in the least sensible Of its e
= Iistence.
al This deeply interesting fact has be
'ps considered as wholly inexplicable, up
ial any known physiological or pathologie
ry principles and il is very certain 4
ne those principles which I have Just stat