The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-08-12
(For the Gazettc.)
THE SCIENCE OF MEDICINE.
ICoaciudea

/ The immediate cause Of all sensible mo
ton in the animal kingdom, is the attrac
ton Of the ends of cells toward each other
| Three conditions are essential for muscu
lar motion. The cells must be perfect,
and then ar,eriaI blood and tho nervous in
llueuce mus, meet upon the cells simulta
neously- perfect structure and the pres
euce Of blood and nervous influence. The
number Of cells is billions, and the blood
and nervous influence may, in an instant
be thrown upon few cells, or all OF them
When they all act, the body is alive will
sno,ion--every part pants for the arena o.
largest portion Of The body. 1t is extern
siveiy distributed on the surface and OF
the limbs; also, by their layers 10 the
structure Of the heart, arteries, veins, lynn
phslics, iaeteals, ducts, receptacles ant
aiimentary canal. II is adapted for loca
action or general. This tissue possesses
merely the machinery for power-it is
destitute of the ability to set itself in mo.
ton. The stimulus necessary to put il in
motion, lies in the two Last conditions foi
its action--in The blood and nervous 10
tluence. These possess the power to sci
The whole apparatus to work, and they
only are the normal awakeners of this tis
sue. They are TO the muscle what the
match is to the loaded cannon. This It's
sue is so organized as TO endow it with two
distinct vital properties, viz, tonicity and
conraciilty. They are, in essence
me- In the normal state of the muscle
there is going on all through i, an imper
'eptible and continuous action of its cells,
sufficient TO give TO tho muscle a slight
tension, gentle traction. This is tonici
lv. BY ii the limbs maintain their baiancs
md due proportion, and the vessels uni
torn calibre, and a given degree Of firm
ness and resisiance-w without which, the
limbs, spine and head, would lose thei
symmetry and beauty of relation, and ths
vascular system soon exhaust itself in
vain aud inefficient efforts 10 pump through
the BODY the red tide of lie.
The second propertv--con,ractIlity
The endowment by which the muscles have
pa'pabe alternate action and rest, and th
may be moderate or violent--the difference
is, one property gives rise TO continuous
but feeble action; the other, to an alternate
action and rest. By it, the limbs move anC
the inimi,able hand paints the undyiug
Image on the canvass, and molds the rude
marble into speaking statue. Withou
it, every department Of art would fall bac'
into chaos; the mind, with allits aspiration
, and gigantic powers, would, like the wreck
ed war-ship on the beach, lie powerles
: amid a world OF inviting objects ofpursui'
Nature might pour ., mans feet all he
treasures; and fields Of wealth, of glory, o
ambition, of fame and Of benevolencs
nigh, appear in rapid succession belor
him. with transcendant allurements, bu
s,rangulated and incarcerated within hi
own mo,ion!ess frame, he would weep an
oine before the exhaustloss wealth ofnntuE
and Of art. These two propertles-ionic
!. " and conirucliity Of the muscular tibr
Of should be to the physician what tn
Bible is TO the Christian, or the Koran is
tho Islam Fidelity to their teachings WI
- remoye the hectic flush or the parcht
t. tongue; the pallor of approaching death
e. the delirium OF burning fever; the ta!lt
10 abdomen OF The deformed spine; the sun