Natchitoches spectator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1867-18??, 1868-04-30

NATURAL CATSES OF DEATH
From the commencement Of life to the
moment of death there are mechanical
and chemical changes constantly and
uninterruptedly going on in our bodies.
For example, we eat and drink for the
express purpose of of providing mate
rails for repairing the waste of matter
resulting from the working of the
machinery. A soft, oily fluid is poured
into, the joints to prevent friction, just
as oil is poured into an axle box of q
Car wheel to prevent it from wearing
away the metal. Our bones are all
frequently renewed as well as our flesh,
from infancy to age; but not in day or
an hour. Nature acts'persistently, but
accemplishes nothing by spasmodic
efforts.
As soon as particle of lime which
was held in solution in food is placed in
the stomach, it is carried to the heart by
appropriate vessels, and from thence
conveyed into the artery, to be dis
tributed to q point where most needed
in some bone. There this little particle
lis deposited and becomes incorporated
with the substance of the hard structure
where 1t was left. 1t becomes yitalized
in it's new connection. An old particle,
or as it were an old brick, is detaching
from the wall to give place to new one.
1t is carried out of the body as useless
matter, as its vitality has been expen-
ded- So particles are perpetualfy
changing place. The new go in and the
old go out. This is vigorous life and
health, SO long as this vital process is
regularly performed. a. Ill ,yti!.,iraI
In the lapse of time the vital artisans,
such as the liver, spleen, heart, stomach,
etc, are weary by years of incessaht
toll, and fair to act with that system
attic activity characteristic OF younger
days. BY this relaxing new particles
are not sent forward often enough, nor
are the effete ones removed quickly and
consequently there is mechanical ir-
regularity and chemical one also.
Thus, we wear away, and finally we die
of old age. When disease sets in it is a..
sudden clog of the wheels, as it were.
The vital action by which life and con
sciousnsss is maintained cannot be sus-
pended, but a moment at farthest, with
out the hazard of death. When n man
is drowned the machine stops. If, how
ever, certain measures are quickly
adopted, provided respiration has been
suspended but few minutes, life may
possibly be recalled. That is, the heart
may be urged into contraction and the
lungs once more commence filing and
c0llapsing. di s, -st
When there are no violations of the
vital laws great longevity is attainable.
Few, however, are so careful as not to
trespass upon themselves in some form;
the penalty of which is sickness, suffer
ing and a premature death. off
Whales, sharks and some few of the
land animals whose food is invariably
easy of digestion and whose habits, reg
ulated by instinct, are as ;unchangable
as Nature herself, live to immense long
periods. 1t is the opinion of some natu-
ralisrs that the Bal9na or right whale
of the Attic regions may reach the pa
triarchial age of n thousand years.
Sharks, whose skeletons are not hard
bono but flexible cartilaginous levers,
are also supposed to continue several
centuries if not destroyed by enemies.
Notwithstanding the universal desire
for life, which is instructive, we thought
lessiy hasten the approach of the calam-
fty We SO much dread. With all the
light of modern science, in an age, too,
remarkable for intelligence, we pursue
practices daily which we know are de-
structive to life. Each thinks himself
removed from the dangers which threat
en- others; and acting upon the idea that
all others are mortal but ourselves, We
ut last fnll, as generations have before
us, to be remembered no more forever.
Youth may reach three score and ten
by simply conforming to these natural
laws which give health and happiness.
A deviation is perIlous; hence it be-
hooves those who love life to shun every
influence which might interfere with the
enjoyment of the most valuable of all
blessings-a sound body and clear
mi1d.
-. -. -. ~. .,.
A company has been formed in Cali
fornia foran expedition to raise frigate
iadened with gold and silver ingots,
doubioons, etc, sunk on the Peruvian