The post. [volume] (Middleburg, Snyder County, Pa.) 1864-1883, 1879-07-24

The Condition Of IMe 10 Death -

tVS VVVuVtVV VI 9WC - GedkV.
This is the aphoristical saying OF
one of our own most eminent mod.
ern psychologists and one, too,
that is Being continually verified.
We can scarcely turn our eyes in
any direction without boholding the
exhibition Of this law. We perceive
n disposition 10 Tho great kingdoms
OF nature, to be continually catering
to their mutual wants. Upon the
death of indefinite quantities Of veg.
etsble and Animal matter, is the
principal Of life sustained within
our bodies. Upon the destruction
Of the smaller aud weaker auimals
depends the lives Of all the csrnivao-
ra. The hawk preys upon the chick
ems the fox ueon the birds the
wolf upon the lamb aud man upon
all. BY the death Of the foliage, and
its subsequent decay, tho trees roots
receive nourishmeet. Eseu the fall
of the "human leaf and that dis
gusting corruption which succeeds,
comes forth arrayed in all the beauty
Of vegetable life-cousumed once
more (as food), again it forms part
ia the tenement OF another soul.
Well may we ask,
Where is the dust that has not been alive.
The spade, the p'cw, disturbs our an-
| oesters,
From human mold we reap our daily
bread
But this law is still moro beauti-
fully examplifed in the successive
death and removal Of the PARTICLES
which compose our living bodies.
This is taking place as continually,
that the human body is is an allusion
to our ecuses, 1t has been compar-
ed to the flame Of lamp, which APP
pears the same although its parti'
clos are being removed constantly.
aud new oues fastening to be con-
sumed likewise. Stop but for an
hour the process OF intorstitial death,
that is going on within our bodies
suspend but for few minutes the
depurative action Of the lungs, aud
we would be poisoned aud stiiled by
matters generated within our own
bodies. To describe how these cham
ges occur--how by tho addition Of
the new aud tho removal Of the old,
the mechanism is sustained through
the different periods Of life, is the
province Of physiology. Anatomy de.
scribes tho organism separately aud
as u whole, physiology. it's function.
1t tells us how we live, and points
very significantly to the outlets OF
life, For tue sdstenauce Of anima
life there arc three great essentials,
food, air and water. Suspend but
for few moments the introduction
of air into tho lungs, AMI the wheels
Of life would move heavily, few
more, and they would pause forever
SO, then, wherever the beh1sts of na-
ture have directed tho footsteps of
any animated being, is found an II
bundance Of this invisible food.
Wherever aught that breathes the
breath of life has penetrated, in re-
cesses far beyond the eye of man,
this prying elcment tns preceded |
The sllmy denizens Of the ocean are
supplied with an apparatus,by viii ch
they separated it from the water.
As soon as man Is ushered upon this
theater Of action it rushes into his
longs, Gro long tho maohinory OF lie
begins to move, and ever afterward
as long as his fabric is kept in work.
ing order, receives new supplies to
renew the red stream Of life as it
hastens on its endless course Its
mission Of charity, distributing its
supplies to tbs hungry organs. The
other essentials, food aud water, are
required only at intervals OF some
extent, consequently, nature, always
true to herself, has provided then,
here and there, accessible to the hand
Of man. La obtaining the first OF
those essentials WE play a passive
part. No effort is required to in
hale the air it enters unbidden /;
not only 80, but such is the arrange.
ment that the instructive wants OF
our nature rebel at the slightest
check upon this function. In OBJ
tanning the last two some effort ON
our part is required. Ever since it
was pronounced, that "by the sweat
of his brow man should eat bread,
he has been, moro or less compla-
Gently, submitting to his destiny. In
obedience to this edict, no has gone
forth and leveled tho forests, aud
made to wave in their stead the gol-
den grain he has dug deep intothe
earth, and exhumed the shapeless
ore, and transformed it into the
beautiful aud precious jewel. In
: compliance with this command, he
has exchanged the howl Of the wild
beast for the hum Of machinery he
has resisted the rude barriers, and
reared upon the waste places OF the
earth great cities aud splendid insti-
tutions Of learning. lie has never
ceased trying to invent something
new, to bless mankind and gain him
bread. For this ho has endangered
his life upon the seas OF battle field,
in tho pestilential wards OF the hos
. pital, aud the poisonous precincts OF
the dissscting room. In short he
: has made earth to teom with the pro-
ducts OF his inventive, restless miud.
. The entertaining and instructive vol.
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