The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1849-12-25


not aware of the fact that all living things
die; for the rapid m etamorphosis ofoxidat:on
of the body's tissues, we are taught, mus
finally reach that period when the ever active
oxygen gains the ascendency over the vital
force. -
That these laws of changes should be
closely studied by us all, we cannot for mo-
ment doubt, for that which involves the fate
Of everything crea ted should be to us mat
ter of the first Importance. We pass through
life thoughtless and careless of things about
US, unless they shall appear of considerable
magnitude to the needless mass. but Of those
silent and rapid changes which are momen-
tarily ensuing in the hidden laboratories of
the human system, we scarcely bestow a sin
gle thought. We all imagine thata mental
impulse, a yoition or conception, are things
quickly over and gene forever, nor do we
dream that they are continual impressions, as
lasting as are the organs, and as indelible
as their manifestations. We do not recollect
that all things have their definite end, how
yer trihing, and that nothing can transpire
without being recorded in the changes of
that even the lightest thoughts
no wsoever volatile they may be, lie; We amin
delibe impression whose manifestations last
life-that in the change or i'm
pulse Of atoms which every mental exercise
causes, we have a record of the deeds and
the thoughts of life, and that as these cause
the change of the faculties so is the charac-
ter of the person moulded throughout its
progress. These are things that we all should
reflect upon; for even during this course of
reflection we may induce a change in the
cerebral mass which will manifest itself for
years, perhaps for a lifetime. To evade this
law of changes would be out Of the question;
/ would be but the inlatuation of Jonah in
to escape that which is inevitable;
therefore we should meet our fate, not by
vain struggling against what may be deform-
ty. but by altering and heautfying it.
There is nothing among all created things
80 unstable as our own organism. Most of
the substances composing the inorganic king
dom may be exposed for years to the ar, with
out undergoing any observable alteration;
but this is not the case with your own bodies
.or no sooner is the vital force destroyed than
there ensues a motion among the
forming our bodies. We of all
Kings are composed Of the most unstable
for so complicated is the com
position of animal substances, that immedi-
ltely upon the destroyal Of vitality, dstur-
oance of their atoms commence breaking
up of existing groups, and new arrange
nent of atoms forming compounds less com
dictated and consequently more stable I'll
nay be said TO be an axiom in Chemistry
hat the more comprehensive greater mum
,er of eIements-a compound contains, the
more unstable it is, and as the animal body is
ompoSed Of groups Of compounds contain
ng the largest number of elementary mole
ules, so tits correspondingly the least able TO
esst the action of the air-to resist decom-
'ositirn or putrefaction. Therefore as we
ave learned during the time of its volatility, |
o often death, does the body constantly
hange, but with a rapdity far exceeding
nytlling we observe in its living state. The
reath has scarcely left the body ere the pro-
ess OF decomposition commences. The OK
gen of the air ever active, attacks the ts-
nes, now powerless, and rapidly oxydizes
lem. Every organ of the body is now
hanged in its relation to this oxygen; for
ereft OF the vital force. WHICH sustained
lem and prevented the play of tile powerful
fiinities they have for oxygen, they combine
lpidly with it, forming less complicated com
ounds. and these of an invariabIe and gas
ous nature which, through their volatility
y off and pass from sight. tits but breif
me from the hour of death ere the body we
} fondly looked upon has mysteriously dis
ppeared-the eye which mirrored such in
diligence, the cheek whose bloom spoke 20
oquently of health, and the features whose
Spresson wesso loved to read. are all dis{
ersed INTO the air and gone forever. Gone
rever did | say 1t is true that the form
passed away, and may never appear just
it was again; but that the atoms which
ade up that form are annihiated, we are
ught is not so, for decay deals only with
rms; it is nothing more than the shifting
le displacement of atoms. and while the lat
T continue to exist ever in the plentitude Of
leir youth, it is among forms only that de