Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-12-04

To ne Editor Of he CONNER cidl
This is an age of moral and physical unrest
an age OF doubt and perplexities-An age OF
reason and philosophy-An age of investigation
into the foundation of many of the time honor
ed theories, customs and practices-an age
rife with solutions of difficult problems, which
but few years ago, it would have been consid-
cred vain babblng 10 even discuss the proba-
bilities OF their being solved-An age in which
the prophet tells us many shall run to and fro
and knowledge shall be increased II will not
do to tell every one that the 'hAr Of dog wi |
cure bis bite" for more than likely you will be
met with the inquiry "how do you know z" and
that may be quite difficult to explain. Neither
will it do to make assertions only. The mere
statement that pure air. even II cold, in q bed
room or elsewhere, is more conducive to health
than impure lar, IL warm il not enough to in-
duce people to make radical changes in their
habits, without giving some Of the reasons why
Many who are interested will be mere than like
~ to ask why II 10 30. And those who are or
profess to be wAtchmen lover the lives and
uealth OF = community should be able to give
some, II not all, the reasons why it is so.
Now.it is we'll understood fact and dem
onstraiive that life cannot be maintained more
than few minutes without air. The blood while
circulating through the lungs comes in contact
with the air contained in the air cells and pas
sAges and receives oxygen therefrom, thereby
becoming yivihed. This viyifcAtion Of the
blood 10 very essential TO the maintenance OF
life, for the amount OF and intensity OF the vital
force depends largely upon the proper and con-
slant airing OF the vital fluid, which is prirci-
faly effected by the lungs, and can only be prop
erly performed during full and free respiration.
The part played by oxygen in the maintaining
OF life, so far as IL known, Is this 1t burns up
the broken down tissues, and thus converts
them into cArbonic- acid gas and ashes. The gas
is Immediately absorbed by the red corpusclea
OF the blood, and by them conveyed to the lungs
where it is exchanged for oxygen, 1t is this ex-
change Of cArbonic-acld for oxygen that constr
tutes airAtion. The ash which il left after the
burniDg OF the brokendown tissues il held in
solution by the serum Of the blood. and is by it
transported to the various organs Of depuratiOn
by which 1t is separated from the blood and dis
charged III the urine, perspiration, bile and
focal matters. II oxygen is net received into
the system in sufficient quantity, the broken
down TISSUES are not removed from the living
ones ss they should be, and in consequence
their presence prevents the formations OF new
tissue, and thus the body is hot properly main
tanned.
On the other hand il oxygen is received into
the system in sufhcienuqHAntity,A all the worn out
matter is burned or o1ydized. and ample oppor.
tunity is given for the rebuilding or repairing al
| parts. Another benefit derived from the oxidiza.
ton for the wastes OF the body is the evolution
OF heat for it is by this process that the ANNA
| heat is produced and maintained. The de-
| mAnd for oxygen to assist in the worh
OF dlslntegration as above described ID
/ 10 great that an amount OF blood equa
to the entire volume OF that contained in thu
body is carried to the lungs every three or foul
minutes for the purpose OF throwing OF its loaC
OF cArbonic'acd gas and receiving fresh sup
| ply Of oxygen. Now, as air sustains so impor
tsnt relation to life and health it is highly i'm
portant that it should be received into the lung
| in as pure a condition as possible Hence it cal
| Ge seen or understood from the reasons above
| stated. how person may be more sensitive L
1 a.11 - -. -
has been largely used up. than he could In pur
| atmosphere at temperature Of 40 where oxygel
Is plenty. Cold air taken in the lungs through tn
| proper channel (the nostrs) will not hurt an,
| one. Let those then who have not alread
| formed the habit Of ventilating their living Ant
sleeping apartments do ~ at once il their desir
is health and long life.
Dr.. G. s. HONEYWELL.