The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-11-27

Yesterday evening DR.. John II. Griscon deliver
ed lecture on the necessity of ventilation, at the
Brooklyn Female Academy, where large and re-
spectacle audience had assembled. The first
point in connection, he said, was that which we
eat, and which is termed food. Food, however, is
merely secondary matter TO our existence, for
without coming in contact with the atmosphere, it
would prove utterly useless The food is rendered
useful by the process, which is called digestion. 1t
first undergoes the process OF mascation, and then
passes into the stomach, where il is converted into
a homogeneous mass of delicate texture and of
white color, technically termed chyli The food in
this condition must, however, undergo another es-
sential change before is fitted for the nourishment
Of The body, and that change is respiration, which
il the last act Of the process Of digestion In treat
ipg Of the subject Of respiration, he would conne
himself TO the mechanism and chemistry OF the
same. The fret part Of the body Immediately con-
nected with the mechanism OF respiration of the chest
or thorsx, if the action of which may be compared
with that of bellows BY means of the respiratory
Gle sitUated 10 H. vicinity of the chest and pnn
cpally by theexcavaiion of the diaphragm, muscu-
In PARTITION which separates the thoracic from the
abdominal cavity, we increase the capacity Of the
che 81 in all drect0ns and the air PUSHES IN to sup
ply Tie vacuum thus created. The air, however,
does not enter the cavity OF the chest proper, but
INTO certain organs situated within the same These
organs are the lungs, composed OF carill3 glnous
htfes, end which in the act OF inhalation swell aud
expend the chest. The capacity Of the chest de-
tends upon the Original formation The hahits OF the
Individual, and the power OF the spiratory muscle =
/ Doth lungs, when in good condition, are sail TO
receive about twelve pints OF air. the greatest H-
/ spiretion known is nine aud half pnts, the or
/ dinnry rs only one punt, when we re in quiz
I escent state. He then alluded 10 the importance
I OF cuitivatng the chest Another part Of the
mechanism Ct The respiration is the position
OF the lungs in respect to the heart. He then de-
sCTittd The formation, structure, appearance aad
position Of the heart. The heart puisates seventy
Two times in a minute in healthy person, AMI the
object Of the pusaiion to receive blood which rs
been collected from every part of the body. The
Iesfi IL a double organ, with cavities, two TO
! ctive the blood and two 10 expel IT, The ariera
blood flows from the heart throughout the body +,
and Is then returned through the venons system
I in impure state. This impure blood Is thea
circulated m the lungs, where It comes In con-
\ teCt Wnh cir, which Is inhaled. There are 81.
vsuty.two pulEatiuns in minute. ard allow
Ing tor every pusation one ounce Of blood, there
I are teveutNftwo ounces az blood passed through
he body in every minute The hrst point connect
! ed with the che ms,ry Of respiration s the otmos
/ pLefe. IL IL composed Of oxygen and hydrogen
/ gas. When the impure blood IN the lungs comes ~
contact with the atmosphere, the former gives OIL
it, impure substances, which are chiefly carbon and
Yapor, ana ahsorbs the oxygen of the atmosphere,
/ which mptris its viyJing influence 20 the blood
! The combination Of the oxygen and carbOn Is The
I ssne process which occurs In burning charcoal.
tId il Is this that produces the natural heat Of our
bodies. which has temperature ct D degrees.
The substance inhaled Is CA bonic acid eaT, which
Is the strongest poison thst the chemist kaOws, AM
\ cannot be inhaled. Eight ounces Of pure carbon
are inhaled in twenty four hours. Some throw of
more, end Others less, Of carbonic acid gas Ihs
I general GvtTsse computation Is tive ny-twO cubic
feet IN twtnty.iour hours From this u Il easily TO
Cslcnlite the cordtiOn OF the atmosphere IL loom
Y or church. From this the Importance of attending
20 ventilation ie az orce evident In concurion, he
I Hdfnonislcd his hearers 20 cultivate aud cxpand
be la.f nv .haNtu oh n her
sib'r, end % have a proper ventilation, by citecung
q currency the air In any confined place.