The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-04-05
Combustion.

To the Editor Of the Standard:
| wish TO insert few lines in the col.
umns of your paper regarding the phe
nomena OF combustion, having had a dis
pute on that subject few days ago. Oi
course il is impossible and unnecessary
for me to give my opinion on the subject
which is authenticated by Psychologists
and chemists of the present. Presume
that all persons are aware that the word
means a burning" That when oxygen
the supporter OF combustion unites direct
ly with a substance. and is attended with
an evolution OF light and heat. the process
said TO burn, on the other hand the body
which can combine with oxygen under
such circumstances is termed cOmbusti-
BILE. The question soon arose concerning
animal heat. and this was the point Of
dispute. Ny friends vindicating that the
functions OF the lungs is to heat the blood
by the combustion going on continually
within them and was then carried warm
animal heat IT mistake not this be
lieve was the teachings of psychologists
in these ancient days. but these opinions
like their defenders are mon est
Our more modern psychologists have
proven this to be lallacious or mislead-
ing idea. That the ABSORPTION of oxygen
produces animal heat none dispute. But
that the oxydation of fat and other con
stituents OF the blood, takes place in the
minute capillary vessels is the point Of
doubt That combustion is accomplished
by the oxydation of now introzenized
food existing in the body as blood, | think
is made obvious by psychologists. For
example a fat animal deprived OF nour
ishment few days it will rapidly dimin-
ish in weight This result is certainly
the necessary result or consequence OF
the TACT that the animal is continually
throwing off carbonic acid and water from
the lungs and the skin. and the mineral
constituents from the excretory organs.
and receiving no food to replace them.
IL we examine the condition OF the ami
NAL after this period Of starvation. we |
find the loss Of weight and substance is
most remarkable in the fact OF the body |
which has diminished in far greater pro.
portion than any ofits other constituent
II on the other hand we give |
th e animal an abundance Of fat in its |
food We find that the fat of its own |
body will suffer no diminution. but the |
oxygen taken into the blood will trans
form the fat OF the blood into carbonic |
acid and water and is conveyed tn the
lungs and breathed out. The oxydation
of fat and the other constituents Of the
blood is supposed to take place mainly in
the minute vessels called capillary ves-
sells The lungs acting as purifiers. The
arterial or oxygenated blood coming from
the lungs passes a scarlet color, gives up |
its oxygen to the substances with which
it is brought in contact and receives in
return the products of oxidation. 1t /
then changes color from bright to |
dark red, and returning to the lungs |
surrounded by air cells. There the car.
bonic acid and water passes out through
the mem branous tissues enclosing them |
through endosurotic action, and by the |
act OF exhalation are forced into the air, |
while at the same time oxygen from with
out is taken into the lungs and the blood |
is restored to its arterial red, and returns |
upon its circuit to effect the same change |
and undergo the same transformation.