Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1875-04-15


may be called the three great central
wheels of the living machine. Mutually
dependent, any arrangement of the
functions of the one is felt by each of
the others. Should the action of one
entirely cease, all would stand still. Ac-
cordingly, as one or the otEer is the first
to feel the approach of death, it is said
that death begins at the brain, or the
heart.
As an example of death beginning at
the brain, we mention apoplexy, in
which the pressure from distended
blood-vessels, or from the presence of
blood from a ruptured vessel, so greatly
interferes with the action of the brain
as to cause death. The same result
follows from the pressure of a de-
pressed fragment of bone In fractured
skull
Opium and other narcotic drugs act
specifically on the brain and, when
taken in poisonous quantities, death be-
gins in that organ.
In the operation of hanging, if the
neck is broken, the pressure of the
fractured portion of the cervical verte
bra upon the nledulla obloRgata, which
is but continuation of the brain from
the cranial cavity, produces death in
stantly. But if the neck is not broken,
and the victim dies from strangrllation,
we have an example of death beginning
at the lungs. Any obstruction of the
lungs, whether the peculiar emulation of
Group which fills the larynx, and is
known as the false membrane, or any
other which prevents the access of air,
causes death by strangulation. In ex-
tehsive pulmonary congestion, and in
qualification of the lungs from infam-
nation, the natural spongy tissue is
rendered impervious to air, and death
begins at the lungs. Drowning, and
suffocation by any means, as well as the
inhalation of poisonous gas, are other
examples of this mode of dying. Death
beginning at the heart may be sudden
or gradual. The opposite conditions of
paralysis and spasm may be produced by
the same cause, such as wounds of the
heart, shock from extensive injury, as
the crushing of limb, or violent blow
on the pit of the stomach. If, from
paralysis, the heart ceases to contract,
and Is found distended with blood. If,
from spasm, the organ is powerfully
contracted. its cavities are emptied and
almost obliterated. Sudden death from
drinking ice-water when the body is
over-heated is by some supposed to be
caused by "cramp in the stomach. "
But it is spasm, or "cramp of the
heart, which is the immediate cause of
death in those cases. The violent shock
of the cold liquid on the nerves of the
stomach is transmitted to the heart by
reflex action, and produces the powerful
and fatal contraction.
Many fatal cases of sunstroke are ex-
amples of death from paralysis of the
heart. Exhausted by the heat and over
exertion, the patient faints, and never
revives. The heart loses its power to
contract and, in a state of complete re-
taxation, its cavities loaded with blood,
motion ceases.
The example mentioned will serve as
type of cases of sudden death from
paralysis of the heart. A person pros
trated by loss of blood is suddenly
raised up in bed-he falls back and is
dead. The heart, weakened in COM
mon with the whole muscular sys-
tenn, is unable to perform the extra
labor forced upon it by the change of
position.
Death beginnicg at the heart is not
always sudden. In fevers and other
continued diseases, which gradually ex-
haust the vital powers, the action of
the heart becomes by degrees irregular
and feeble, until at last it futters and
dies.
For practical purposes, it is sufficient
to recognize but two modes of dying,
viz, death from asthenia, or want of
strength, and from apnea, or want of
breath. The common saying that man
, died /" from want of breath % is not al
: ways correct. His breathing apparatus
, may have been in perfect condition, and
no lack of pure air, still he dies from
want of strength-his heart has not the
: strength to continue its labor, and
!, there death begins. Or, he is in good
strength, but some of the conditions
| above mentioned interfere with res
piration, and he dies from apn9a,
) want of breath.-Haps Journal OF
Health.
P4R4DOXES.
Water thrown into a red hot metallic