The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1882-02-18

THE ORGANS OF RESPIRATION DEFINED.
THE INVESTING MEMBRANE AND IT'S RE.
LATI0N TO THE VITAL sTRuCTURE.--THE
SPIRITUAL BODY FED THRoUGulI THE LUNGS.
Mr. Editor:
When the organs Of respiration are men.
uoned, the nose, throat, larynx, trachea,
bronchial tubes aud ar-cels constituting
the lungs are meant.
The organs of respiration form the struct-
llre through which we breathe. When we
close the lips and draw air through the
nose 1t passes over the thrAat, through the
larYnx, trachea, and bronchial tubes into
the alr-cells. Thus it may be seen that all
the organs OF respiration combined form
one continuous air-passage or breathing
structure.
This atr-passage from the nose TO the
lungs is covered with membrane, lust as
the body is with skin The surface of this
membrane is covered so closely with short
har-like tubes, that even under strong
magnitying inspection it is barely possible
to discern any interstital space. All these
tubes have tiny orifces, or mouths, which
are opened and closed by or bicular muscles.
winch relax and contract with every systolic
and dyastoic action of the heart. These
mouths suck in and spew out with every
throb OF the pulse thin transparent mucus
which keeps the surface of the membrane
wet
The importance of this membrane in the
economy ofIespiration cannot be too highly
estimated. Life could not be sustained
without it. Were it not fer this wet sur
face the repeated inspiration of dry air
passing into the lungs would soon DESTROY
the delicate tissue ofthe air-cells with fiery
Inflammation. The office of this membrane
is to the vital structure what the stomach
is to the physical system 1t digests the
air and attracts elements from it for vital
purposes.
BY the vital structure is meant that in
terror organization which is endowed with
motion, sensation, intelligence, and endur
ing life. In an old book it is so oxen of as
a spiritual body" Plato, Aristotle, and
Socrates recognize it az the interior SELF
Call 1t as we may, it is an intelligent inter
pervadlng essence OF the physical structure;
and the physician who does not understand
the laws through which it manifests its
presence, in sickness and in health is, to
say the least, not fully qualified in his pro.
tesslon, no matter in what school of medi
cine he has graduated, or how many honors
his alma mater may have conferred upon
him.
Beautifully related to this inner body are
the organs of respiration. They draw
from the atmosphere supplies to promote
its growth and perpetuate its existence.
Through them magnetic and electric ele-
ments are attracted for the indwelling spirit.
just as nutrition is sucked up by the mesen-
teries to sustain the physical structure.
The analogy is perfect.
The anatomy and physiology of the hui
man lungs are wonderful. They are SUI
perior to those Of animals. The very fact
that the vascular structure ultimates in air
chambers, that the vascular system insn-
yates its tiny network of canals all over
the walls of these chambers, that the bron !
chial tubes terminate in air-cclls, that the |
is substance of polar attrac. |
ton, and the fact that the whole structure
is in harmony with the heart through the
pulmonary veins, and with the brain
through the sympathetic nerve and lynn
phatic glands, forces the conviction that the
lungs were designed TO receive and organize
elements into enduring struct-
Ire that is governed by principles Of justice
md eternal laws.
Very respectfully.
N. b, WOLFE, M. ID.
Az Smith 81 Cincinnati n