Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1874-02-27
Concerning Air.

which Is constantly generated in the sys-
tedn, and thrown off by the lungs and
skin, is carried away from it, and it
brings to the system oxygen, a substance
without which no life can exist for mo-
ment.
In regard to the first point, it is only
necessary to state that tie ability of the
air to carry away from the body its poi
sonous emanatiOns is in exact proportion
to the purity of the air. In order that the
air be pure 1t must be continually changed;
otherwise a person is enveloped in con.
stantly thickening cloud of "his dead
self" and breathes himself over and over
again; under which circumstances it may
truly be said that "man's worst enemy is
his own breath"
In order the more fully to understand
what is accomplished by oxygen within
the system, let us call to mind what oc-
ours outside the body when oxygen forms
combinations with any of that class OF
substances called organic.
The term organic matter is used to dis.
tinguish that which has at some time un-
dergone the process of growth it includes
all animal and vegetable matter which
has not lost its character as such by the
process of decay, or by some form of CON-
bustion; it differs from all other matter
(which is called inorganic) in the very
important circumstance that it contains
stored up within it, in latent form, what
is called force.
During the process of growth, all ami
NAL and vegetable cXistences appropriate
and imprisOn the rays of light and heat
which they receive from the sun, the veg
etable directly and the animal for the
most art indirectly, through the medium
of food.
Now it is the great office of oxygen to
liberdte this latent force. In the familiar
example of ordinary combustion it is lib
Grated as light and heat, but the particu
lar form of its manifestation varies with
the varying circumstances attending its
| liberation.
If kernel of wheat, for instance, be
exposed to an elevated temperature in the
presence of oxygen, a chemical union
takes place between the oxygen and the
elements of the wheat light and heat are
| given out, and that which was organic
live matter becomes inorganic and dead.
The oxygen has, as it were, entered in and
driven out the force from its hiding place
A process similar to this occurs in the
living body; here as in the kernel of
wheat is force in a latent form, which
must be set free by the same agent,
oxygen.
In the body, however, matter exists in
a great variety of forms, and the circum-
stances and conditions attending the lib.
Grafton of its force are many and dissimi
lar Hence we might expect what we
actually observe, great variety ofdynamiC
manifestations within the body.
Oxygen is carried by the blood to every
microscopic point of the system it stand:
NHhp &c Oft or
which is everywhere, to form cOmbina
tions with it and set at liberty the impris
oned force. When this force is set free
in muscular tissue it manifests itself a.
muscular contraction; in nerve tissue i
takes the form of nerve force; in one or
gan it shows itself as an eXcTetive, in an
other as a secretive force; while in th'
brain, that most wonderful of all mechan
isms, it manifests itself under all the vary
ing forms of thought, evolution and con
sciousness. This union of oxygen will
. organic matter precedes and is the eff
cient cause of all activity within the body
But the matter which by this union ha
yielded up its force has become dead il
office in the system has been accomplish
ed No sooner, however, does it assume
this lifeless form than there is developed
in the surrounding atoms force of re
pulsiOn which separates it from the liv
ing tissue and throws it off into the blood
} by which it is carried to the differen
t secretory organs, and by them alienatet
from the system. The lungs and skin d.
J a large share of this eliminating, and il i
, with this etfele matter that person con
/ teammates the air But the blood whicl
? carries the oxygen carries also the mate
rial for repair; and no sooner is the deat
r atom expelled than live atom rushes il
} and takes its place, where it remains un
I til called upon in turn to yield up its life
and thus fulfill its mission in the grea
Y economy OF nature.
} These considerations enable us to real
q ize the important part which oXygel
plays in the phenomena of life. Their
: can be no perfect development and n,
3 healthy efficient action without liberia
/. supply. This supply, in the exact form
| which the system demands, is furnished
f by pure atmospheric air. In this way
r oxygen comes to the lungs mingled ii
' due proportion with nitrogen, a portion
! of it being in that modified form callet
: ozone.
s All pure air contains ozone, and owe
/ its life and health giving power in NJ
r small degree to its presence.
!. Air is deprived of its ozone and loade,
!. by passing through the hot-air chambe
}. of an Over.heated furnace, and by passing
: over decaying animal and vegetable mat
v ter, such, for instance, as exists in opel
/ sewers and cesspools
n Foul water-clOsets and damp, uncleal
G cellars accomplish the same result; so il
e an eminent degree do those ingeniou
4 contrivances called Baltimore heaters
. also stoves and ranges with heater attach
r ments. In all of them air that has bee
!. breathed, perhaps several times over,
e called upon to do duty second time, al
0 ter having been purified, as the write
n has been gravely informed, by passin
through heated chamber, wher
d IL is deprived of its ozone, and freighte
g with coal-gas. These things subselve q
:. excellent purpose where scarcity of al
G renders economy in its use an object, an
n where surplus of population makes
e desirable to increase the bills Of morta
Y ity; but where air is plenty and chea
! they can be dispensed with without detr
r ment.
BY such causes vast amount of di
|. ease is produced The necessity {
l. keeping the lungs abundantly supple
# with pure air ought to be fully appr'
# ciated by everyone, and especially b
n those who have the care of household
a Such subjects have close relation wit
l. the development of the highest Christia
e character Paul says, "Know ye not th'
e your body is the temple Of the Hol
/; Ghosts" Certainly then the temp
n should be taken good care Of Cheerful
It ness, purity of mind, clearness Of spil
e by which to discern Divine truth-in
e word, spiritual health is fostered by bo,
Il lily health. TO poison the body by fol
n air is to poison the soul as well.-M L
1t in Christian Union,