Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-11-25
Wonders of the Human System

Wonders of the Human System
Paley applauds the continuance b,
which everything we eat and drink i
made to glide on its road to the gul
LET, over the entrance of the wind
pipe without falling into it. A little
movable lid, the epiglottis, which i,
lifted up when we breathe, is press
ed down upon the chink of the ali
passage by the weight of the food and
the action of the muscles in swal
lowing it. Neither solids nor liquids
in short, can pass without shutting
down the trap-door as they proceed
But this is only part of the safeguard
The slit at the top of the windpipe,
which never closes entirely when we
breathe, is endowed with an acute SEN
sibility to the slightest particle of
matter. The least thing which
touches the margin of the aperture
causes its sides to come firmly to-
gether, and the intruding body is
stopped at the inlet. 1t is stopped,
but unless removed, must drop at
the next inspiration into the lungs.
To effect its expulsion, the sensibiIity
of the rim at the top of the windpipe
actually puts into vehement action
whole class Of muscles placed lower
than its bottom, and which, compress
sing the chest over which they are
distributed, drive out the air with
force that sweeps the offending sub
stance before it.
The convulsive coughing which a.
rises when we are choked. is the ener.
getic effort of nature for our relief
when auythieg chances to have eva
ded the protecting epiglottis Yet
this property, to which we are con-
stantIy owing our lives, is confined
to single spot in the throat. 1t
does not, as Sir Chas. Bell affirms, be-
long to the rest Of the winGpipe, but
is limited to the orifce, where alone
it is needed. Admirable, too, is it
to observe that, while thus sensitive
to the most insignificant atom, it bears
without resentment the atmospheric
currents which are constantly pass
ing to and fro over its irritable lips.
at rejects. says Paley, "the touch
of crumb Of bread, or drop of
water, with spasm that convulses
the whole frame; and yet, left to it.
self and its proper Office, the inter-
mission of air alone. nothing can be
so quiet. 1t does not even make it.
self felt; a man does not know that he
even has a traehea." This capacity
Of perceiving with such acuteness,
this impatience Of offence, yet per-
feet rest and ease when left alone,
are propcrties,one would have thought,
not likely to reside in the same SUBJ
ject. 1t is to the junction, however,
of these almost inconsistent quail.
ties in this, as we'll as in some other
delicate parts of the body, we owe
our safety and ou: comfort-our safe
ty to their sensibility, our comfort to
their repose.
Another of the examples adduced
by Bell is that of the heart. The
famous DR.. Harvey examined, at the
request Of Charles J., a nobleman Of
the Montgomery family, who, in con-
sequence of an abscess, had fistulous
opening into his chest, through which
the heart could be seen and handled.
The great Psychologist was astonish-
cd to find it insensible. 81 then
brought him" he says, "to the king,
that he might behold and touch so ex-
traordinary thing, that he might
perceive, as ] did, that unless when
we touched the outer skin, or when
he saw our fingers in the cavity, this
young nobleman knew not that we
touched the heart" Yet it is to the
heart that we refer our joys, our sor.
rows, and our affections; we speak Of
good-heafted and bad-hearted, a
true-hcarted and a heartless man.
Shielded from physical violence by an
outwork of bones. it is not invested
with sensations which could have at
tributed nothing to its preservation,
but, while it can be grasped with the
fingers, and no intimation of the fact
| to its possessor, it unmistakabIy re.
spends to the varied questions Of the
mind, ard, by the general consent O
mankind. 1t is pronounced the seat O
our pleasures. griefs, sympathies, ha
| treds and love. Persons have fire.
qaently dropped down dead from th'
yehemence with which it contracts o