The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1855-09-06
Facts about the Human Body.

There are two hundred and eight bones in
The human body, exclusive OF the teeth.-
These bones are composed of animal and
earthly materials, the former predominating
in youth and the latter in old age, rendering
the bones brittle. The most important Of the
bones is the spine, which is composed of
,wenty.four email bones called the veHebrg,
one on top of the other, curiously hooked to.
ge,her, and fastened BY elastic ligaments,
forming pillar, so 10 speak, by which the
human frame is supported
The bones are moved by the muscles, of
which there are more than five hundred.-
The red meat of beef, the fat being exclu-
ded, is the muscular fabric of the OK. There
are Two sets of muscles, one TO draw the bone
one way, and another 10 draw it back again.
We cannot better describe the muscles than
by comparing them to fine elastic threads,
bound up in their cases of skin. Many mus
cles terminate in tendons, which are stout
cords, such as may be seen taversins the
back of the hand, just within the skin; and
which can be observed 10 move when the
hand is opened or shut. Every motion we
make, even the involuntary one of breathing,
is performed through the agency of the MUS
cles.
In adults there are about fifteen quarts of
blood, each quart weighing about two pounds.
This blood is of two kinds, the arterial and
veinous. The first is the pure blood, as il
leaves the heart 10 nourish the frame, and is
of bright vermillion color. The last is the
blood, as il returns TO the heart, loaded with
the impurities of the body, to be there refined
and is OF a purple hue. Every pulsation OF
the heart sends out about two ounces of are-
rial blood, and as there are from seventy 10
eighty beats in the minute, hosshead of
blood passes through the heart every hour.
In fevers the pulsations are accelerated; the
waste of tue body goes on faster than il can
be recuperated; aud consequently death en-
sues if the fever is not choked.
The stomach is the boiler, if we may use
such figure which drives the human engine.
Two sets of muscles, crossing each other
lransversely, turn the food over and over,
churnng it up in the gastric juice, I'LL it has
been reduced TO consistency of thin PASTE
This process requires from two 10 four hours.
Emerging from the stomach, the food enters
the small intestines, where il is mixed with
bile and the pancreatlc juice, and converted
into chyls. These small inteslines are twen-
,y-four feet long, closely packed, OF course,
and surrounded through their whole length
with small tubes, which ACT like suckers, and
drawing Of the chyle, empty it into larger
tube, named the ihoracic duct, which runs
up the back, and discharges its contenie into
the Iugular vein, whence il passes into
the heart to assist in forming arterial
blood
The lungs are two bags, connected with
the open air By the windpipe, which branches
into innumerable small tubes, all over the in
side of The lungs, each tube terminating in a
minute air-cell The other surface of these
air-cells is full of capiaries, or infinitely
small veins, thin membrane only dividing
the air from the blood. The impure portion
of veinous blood is carbonic acid, which hav.
ing a.stronger affinity for air than for blood,
passes through this thin membrane, in gas
eous state, combines with the air in the air
cells, and is expelled, with the next expira-
tion. Meantime the oxygen Of the air unites
with the blood and become purified, then
passing into the heart being mixed with chyls
il is forced through the body as lifs-giving
and arterial blood.
The skin serves an important purpose in
carrying off impurities from the human sys-
tenn. 1t is traversed with capillaries, which
contain more blood, in the aggregate, than all
the other capillaries of The body. 1t is also
perforated with countless perspiration tubes,
the united length of which amount TO twen-
" EIGHT miles, and which drain away from
three 10 four pounds Of waste matter every
twenty-four hours, or five eights of all that
the body discharges.
The nerves are another curious feature of
the animal economy. They are, however,
but little understood. They act as feelers 10
tell the wants of the body and also as con-
ductors TO will the muscles 10 act. They
branch out from the brain and spine, over the
whole frame, in infinitely fine fibres, like the
branches and twigs Of tree.-Ledger.