Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1858-04-28
ISCELL A N Y .
The Vital Point,

The vital point is about the size of the head of
a pin. 1t is q little spot formed OF the grey SUBJ
stance of the nerves. The vital spot is situated
at the point OF junction between the cerebral
marrow aad the spinal marrow. The physiUlo-
gst Lorry is said 10 have been the first observer
of this point, probably because he was the ear.
lest observer who has recorded his observations
in books. Sudden death trom what has been
popularity called breaking the neck seems, how
ever, to have induced medical men from very
remote times to suspect the existence OF some
such point.
Rough men have often inflicted instant death
upon children by lifting them up BY the head
Gagged birds, in escaping from their cages, some
tunes dash their beaks against the glass OF win
dows, and kill themselves instantly by breaking
their necks. The butinch OF q friend OF mime,
escaping from his cage during the love season,
dashed against a pane of glass, and expired in.
stantly On examining the bird, found it had
ruptured the vital point. The guardians OF light
houses describe how, during nights of storms
and hurricane, they are continually hearing sea-
birds dashing themselves against the strong glass
of their beacons, and then falling mysteriously
down dead.
Lorry says, ''Th;s place is found in little ami
mails between the second and third, and third
second vertebra OF the neck, aud between the
second and third in animals of greater bulk
Legallois describes the spot exactly: "Respirs
ton does not depend upon the whole brain, but
really upon a very limited spot upon the medul-
la oblongata, which is situated at small dis
tance from the occlpital hole, and towards the
origin OF the pneumogastric nerves or elghth
pair" ,,..
The bfurcation of the bulb or lnedulla oblon-
gata, forming ", the vital knot is located at
the point OF the " 1t is grey corneous point.
This grey pin's-head like spot is the keystone of
the fabric of life The ancients imagined the
Fatal SISTERS with the distaf, the spindle and
the scissors, presiding successvely over the
thread OF life and the mpderns have revealed
Junction of the nervous tibres which small giu-
lot can scoop ont easily, changing thereby, in an
instant, life into death.
The study of the vital point clears up many
dark puzzles.
| need not point out how it explains the cases
of sudden death from what is called breaking
the neck The hangman who understands his
business adjusts the knot 80 as to dislocate the
vertebrs, and tear the vital junction asunder.
When the root of the pDeuinogastric nerves Is
torn, death is instantaneous aud this rupture
requires marvelously little to accomplish it.
The functions Of the vital spot, while explain
ing the suddenness of many deaths which are
constantly deemed mysterious and suspicious,
explain also the proloDgation OF life for consider
able periods, sometimes after the most fatal and
frightfu wounds. What have said about the
vital point explains what used to be when /
was there, and perhaps still is, one OF the stand
ing wonders of London There used to be sew
eral eating houses in the city famous for turtle
soup; and, OF course, there are plenty OF them
still. But at the doors Of the houses which ex-
hibited the wonder, there might be seen lying
upon a layer OF sawdust, at the bottom OF bas-
ket, the living head and neck Of turtle, the
flesh OF which was said to be already made into
soup, and served up to the gastronones inside
The head was undoubtedly alive. The eyes
were alive and moving They seemed diinly,
vaguely, aud feebly to ask from tue spectators,
if not an explanation Of the phenomenon, at
least, why and wherefore the head had been
served in this way. Persons hardy enough to
put their fngers into the mouth were assured OF
the vivacity oi the severed head by receiving
good pinch. / for one am guiltless OF having
ever eaten any of the soup; nevertheless 1 am
still haunted by those reproaching eyes, although
am sure could exclaiul, "rhou canst not say
| did it,"
The physlologlsts long since reversed tne VOL
der of the London cooks The cooks displayed
heads alive and bodies soup, and the sayans dis
played heads dead and bodies alive. Redi cut
off the head of turtle which survived % days.
Flourens had some salamanders which lived sew
eral months without their heads Legollois says
birds have been known to walk and run with
their heads off.
The explanations are very simple. The vital
point is close to the head in all reptiles and es
pecally in the batrachian reptiles and the Lon
don cooks, when cutting off the head, cut Oft the
vital point with it. The Psychologists do just
the reverse. When the Psychologists sever the
heads of frogs, turtles, or salama lders, with a
view to show the reptiles living without their
heads, they are careful, by cutting above the
vital point, to keep it attached to the body.
One more explanation and have DONE The
newspaper correspondents who wrote home ao-
counts of the battle OF the Alma, challenged the
Psychologists to explain how soldier, the length
OF whose head from the front to the back had
been traversed by a bullet, was able to walk
down the hill to wash his head in the river
Similar facts have long been well known. Men
have lived many years, we'll, sane, and healthy,
after their skulls have been cleft to q consider
N ahla Aanth on ono o;da