Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1868-04-11
NATURAL CAUSES OF DEATH
From Harper's Weekly.


From the commencement of life TO the
moment of death there are mechanical and
chemical changes constantly and uninter-
ruptedly going on in our bodies For ex-
ample, We eat and drink for the express
purpose Of providing materials for repair
ing the waste of matter resulting from the
working of the machinery. A soft, DIV
fluid is poured into the joints to prevent
friction, just as oil is poured into an axle
box of a car wheel to prevent it from wear
ing away the metal. Our bones are fire.
quently renewed az well az our flesh, from
infancy to age; but not in day or an hour.
Nature acts persistently, but accomplishes
nothing by spasmodic efforts.
As soon as a particle of lime which was
held in solution in food is placed in the
stomach, ii is carried TO the heart by ap-
propriate vessels, and from thence conveyed
into the artery TO be distributed to a point
where moat needed in some bone. There
the little particle is deposited, and be-
comes incorporated with the substance of
tie hard structure where it was left. 1t
becomes yitalized in its new connection.
An old particle, or, as it were, an old brick
is detached from the wall to give place to
new one. 1t is carried out of the body as
useless matter, as its vitality has been ex-
pended. So particles are perpetually
changing places. The new go in and the
old go out. This is vigorous life and
health 80 long as this vital process is regu-
larly performed.
In the lapse of time the vital artisans,
such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, heart.
stomach, etc, are weary by years of in
cessant toll, and fail to act with that sys-
tematic activity characteristic of younger
days. By this relaxing new particles are
not set forward often enough, nor are the
effete ones removed quickly, and Conse-
quently there is a mechanical irregulaTity
and chemical one also. Thus, we wear
away, and die of old age. When disease
SETS In II is a sudden clog OF the wheels
as it were. The vital action by which life
and consciousness is maintained can not be
suspended, but a moment at farthest, with
ont the hazard of death When a man ia
drowned the machine stops. If, however,
certain measures are quickly adopted, pro-
vided respiration has been suspended but
few minutes, life may possibly be recalled.
That is, the heart may be urged into con-
traction and the lungs once more COM
mence filling and collapsing.
When there are no violations of the vi
tai laws, great longevity is attainable.
Few, however, are 40 careful and discreet
as not to trespass upon themselves in some
form, the penalty of which is sickness,
suffering and a premature death.
Whales, sharks, and some few of the
land animals whose food ia invariably easy
Of digestion and whose habits, regulated
by instinct, are as Interchangeable as nature
herself, live to immense long periods. 1t
is the opinion of some naturalists that the
balena or white whale of the Artic regions
may reach the patriarchial age of thou
sand years. Sharks, whose skeletons are
not hard bone, but flexible cartillaginOus
levers, are also supposed to continue seye-
raj centuries if not destroyed by enemies.
Notwithstanding the universal desire for
life which is instructive, we thoughtlessly
hasten the approach of the very calamity
we 80 much dread. With all the light of
modern science, in an age, too, remarkable
for intelligence, we pursue practices daily
which we know are destructive TO life.
Each thinks himself removed from the
dangers which threaten others +; and acting
upon the idea that all others are mortal
but ourselves, We at last fall, as generations
have before us, to be remembered no more
forever.
Youth may reach three score and ten
by simply conforming to those natural laws
which give health and happiness. a de
Walton is perilOus hence it behooves those
who love life to shun every influence which
might interfere with the enjoyment of the
most valuable of all blessings sound
body and a clear mind.