Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1841-05-20
ORIGINAL.
FOR THE TELEGRAPH.
HUNGER AND APPETTTT

as much alike as chdiE and cheese. why they are
thus COMPOUNDED we can derive no other reason
than common consent, which in one sense seems
to be analogous to the old maxim that "power
makes right
The dlctatlon Of those prim old ladies "com-
mon consent" and "power makes right" we
were early taught to regard with impunity and
at our advanced age of life we have obtained too
much Independence from lessons ofexperience to
swallow erroneous views and erroneous princi-
pies by whomsoever incucated, without the pre-
lminary process of mastication. We have seen
sudden death occur in instance to a german
dizer, from too much hurry in deglutition. Half
mastcating large piece of tough animal mem
brane, in attempting to swallow it rapidly, the
substance passed into the wind pipe, and by the
force of its own gravity and the pressure of at
mospherc air made its way down to the bronchial
bfurcation, and wedging itself into either side of
the bronchus, the individuals own efforts could
avail nothing, and surgical attendance was too
late to extricate it successfully; death having en-
sned before the arrival of such assistance. We
were early on the spot, and the practical lesson
which little reflection taught US from this Incl
dent is,-Never to swallow without well chewing
the material or immatera thing presented to our
senses, lest some ludicrous, moral or serious oc-
currence may ensue, from which no human mea-
sures can give prompt and successful relief.
| But to return from this unavoidable DEPRESSION,
we think the medical faculty are chargeable with
obluscatlng the proper Specification of the terms
Hunger and Appetite; and hence, the introduce
ton of their inseparable meaning as used and I'M
derstood by all classes of people Not that we
designedly tread upon the heels OF gentlemen Of
science and profound learning, and who are sup
posed to understand technicaties secunds,7a ar
tum-but we do purpose rapping their knuckles
rather lightly for gross carelessness in the appli-
cation ofwords, and comical perversion of the
| English language. We will exhibit something of
this, in the way of a short dialogue between the
man ofphysic and an unfortunate patient.
Our supposition will be that each party well
understand the Specification of the words Hunger
! and Appetite.
Paysician How is your appetite to-day, my
dear sir
| Patient Excellent am very Mirsty-con-
| slant desire for drinks-relish the brandy sling
you prescribed yesterday, remarkably well--have
| taken one every halfhour to appease the desire.
Do you think my appetite a morbid one, sir?
Physician. Hem Hal .9h think you mis-
| understood me, dear sir. My iuquiry had refer
ence merely to your desire for. food. | think we
must curtail the stimulus ordered yesterday.
Patient. oh you wished only to ascertain
my feelings of Hunger. / loathe all sorts OF food
but have an intolerable appetite for drinks.
| Physician. That is thirst, sir ! morbid thirst,
sir a sensation, sir! We must suspend its fur
ther continuance-or, or, you will imbbe hab-
tan appetite-a morbid appette-Q beg par
don,) thirst, sir!
| Such is about the usual Interpretation given to
these two words Hunger and Appetite. Be it our
province to designate their respective differences
The word appetite implies internal sensa-
ton, which warns US ofthe necessity of exerting
certain functions. We shall not 20 into an emu
meration of these. One, however, is that of d.
geston lfthe desire for food, ocSasioned by a
real want, be carried to certain extent, it is cal
| led Hunger, when solid food is concerned thirst,
when LIQUID. Appetite and Hunger ought MOTTO
Ne elHployeu SPONTANEOUSLY, BECAUSE tley arc az
! ferent degrees of the same want. Hunger is an
imperious desire it cannot be provoked, Ii Ike the
appetite. 1t is always allayed by eating but not
SO the appetite; for, at times, it may be excited
in this manner. Hunger is the necessity for ia
king food dictated by the wants of the system
farther we know not. Appetite is desire, no mat
ter what that desire may be. 1t may be hunger
or it may be thirst.
| Thirst is simple desire or absolute want
for liquids Its seat is not entirely agreed upon
by Psychologists some place it in the fauces
others in the stomach. Its immediate canse is
not known. The most probable truth is, that it
is produced by suppression of the saliva and mu-
cous secretions at the commencement of the
first passages but it, again, is owing to the
wants of the system,-a supply of fluid being re-
, quired to compensate the numerous losses, that
are constantly taking place. Thirst is an internal
sensatiOn,-an instinctivewant, arising from
organization, and inexplicable,
| We have thus shown the unlimited signfca
ton of the term appetite 1t bears a Similar la
ton to the word propensity" and is as strictly
definite in its general application and use Far,
very far is it from our intention to split straws,
but we do wish that when the man of medicine
calls upon us in the way ofprofessional visits, we