Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1861-03-14
For the Herald.
Reply to 81. w." on Tho Hair.


columns Of your paper, on an article signed
-. W." which appeared in the issue Of
February 14th, entitled, "1hc Hair-Its
Uses, de-"
Mr.. WIS remarks on The Hair may be
true, but are rather theoretical for this age
of facts. If | understand him, the hair is
an electrical conductor and from this by
pothesis he concludes That the hair acts as
source Of electric stimulus to the brain,
the action Of which generates nervous power,
and increases its generated power in an
exact ratio to the increase Of intellectual
development
Now Mr.. w. should know that observa-
ton has taught. by the use Of the galyano-
meter, that there is a current Of electricity
passing from the head toward the ends Of
the hair, and not toward the brain.
As to the Development Of mental power
being coextensive with the generating Of
overwhelmingly, or horsepower, we trust
it not, although he has cited examples TO
prove the position. A few isolated cases
afford no proof, where there are SO many
more cases to prove the contrary.
Weigh in balance the "physical power
Of endurance Of the professional fraternity
with that Of the common ignorant laborer,
and how quick does the former tide aloft
in the air, to determine the weight Of the
laborers powerl Or look at the thousands
Of students, in the most vigorous mental
growth, who left our farms, able to do a
mans work at any kind Of labor, but two
or three years ago; now, they are puny,
weak students. Although the increased
action Of the mind may call forth a more
vigorous action of horsepower, it does not
develop this fluid; nor is this fluid evolved
in proportion to the cerebral activity or
development; for if it were SO, man would
continue to increase in physical power in
an exact ratio to his minds growth. On
the contrary, the physical power of man
reaches its meridian of Development just as
the mind enters upon its most vigorous
stage of growth.
By the DETECTION of the needle of the
galvanometer when applied to the lower
extremities Of the body, it is made apparent
that there is current of electricity passing
toward the head, from which it is radiated
But the true electric engine Of the body
is the pulmonary organs 1.-THE lungs, which
supplies the various gangia (the nervous
centers) of the body with their nerve
power, or neryo-electricity. This fact il
first proved by the physiological fact, thai
the entire suppression Of functional power
| (deatAl is by all means the most speedily
produced by seyering the correction of the
lungs with the braiG--much quicker thar
by seyarins@: ssne arteries Of the heart or any
! cts;;Ier organs of the body. 1t is proved
secondly, by the fact, that during exercise
of the body, such as running, carrying q
heavy load, or anything which exhausts
the nervous power, we breathe with greater
rapidity, in order to supply the ganglia
with more nervo-electricity from the atmos-
pheric air. The last thing we do before
lifting heavy weight, or making Il long
jump, is to take full respiration Of atmo-
sphere, to supply the extra power needed
Again, the right lung is the largest, and
therefore supplies the right side with the
most electricity; therefore, the right limbs
are prompted with greater speed to do tbs
bidding Of the will; for which reason We
are rght-handed instead Of left. But il
has been determined by observation, that
persons who are left-handed have the left
lung the largest, instead Of tho right, which
Is usually the largest. Hence the impro
priety in trying to teach a left-handec
child to be right-handed. Moreover, we
always determine mans strength by The
width Of his shoulders. the depth Of biz
breast, in fine, by the development Of bis
pulmonary organs. IL. ).
Marshalrs Mills WTs., FEB. p.