Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-11-02
TIIE HEART.
It's Functions and It's Disorder

persons arc fortunate, Tor TINS very circuh-
stance is fair presumptivc evidence OF the
normal condition of the organ. On the other
hand, there is probably an equal or greater
number of persons who know well that they
have heart. by this none may be unduly
alarmed, for many complaining hearts are
either overwrought or poisoned with whiskcy
and tobacco, all OF which arc quite prevent
able conditions. The shape of the heart and
tue importance of the work 1t docs in the
system arc well enough known in general
way, but it is by no means easy TO get quick
ly an intelligent idea of this organ. This can
best be done, possibly, by thinking OF tho
heart as double automatic pump.
BY this description of the heart three dis
tinct ideas are intimated. These arc: First,
u fluid 10 be movcu this is the blood; Sec
ond, space from whence this fluid must
come this is the veins and last, a space
into which the blood must he forced; this is
the arteries Now here in few words are
mentioned all the important factors of the
circuatory apparatus, viz, the heart, the
blood, the veins aud the arteries. These all
working harmonlously arc mechanical cX-
hibition of the most wonderful character a
very intelligent notion of the circulation In
the extrcmitcs of the body can be obtained
by looking at the fadiating blood vessels that
can be seen to very good advantage by
holding the car of live rabbit in such way
that the light will shine through it. A mag
nifyng glass will assist much in this.
To become familiar with the external np-
peanncc of the heart it is only necessary to
90 into the market and ask OF the butcher TO
&c shown vcal's heart. The normal human
heart weighs, on an average, about lO
ounces the clenchcd fist is likely near ap-
Proclamation to its size.
The heart is situated in the chest, mostly
in the left side. IL can be located more
accurately as follows With crayon draw
on the body n line one inch to the right OF
ard perpendicular to the breast bone, begin
ming at the bottom of the second and ending
at the top OF the sixth rib. From this point
draw n line eight inches to the left marking
the top of this rib. Now connect the lines
here indicated by n diagonal line. BY this a
triangle is formed on the chest. In this
space within the chest the heart is
normally located. Watch the apex of this
space or lay the hand upon it. In spare
person, erect, it will appear every second, or
oftencr, as though the chest wall started up
as il from blow within. This is the apex
beat of the heart.
Its deviation from this space would be
quickly noticed by an obscrvant physician,
who, by this circumstance. would immcdi-
atcly suspect some marked abnormal cOndi-
tion. To the base Of the heart are attached
tie great arteries and veins of the body. The
junction of these form exceedingly tough
iibrous ring, into which the muscular iibcrs
of the organ arc inserted. Covering
the heart aud about two inches OF the grca,
vessel is u mcmbrancc called the peiicardium,
This is really sack; its inner surface is
very smooth and sCcrctcs fluid, whose
Office doubtless is to diminish the friction
necessarily arising from the movements OF
the heart. Already it has been pointed ou
that the heart is double; its halves are called
the right and lett sides of the heart. Eacl
half of the heart is divided into two cOmpart
mcnts, placed one above the other; the up
per of these spaces is named the aurclc, III,
lower the vcniriclc. EACH Of these dly.s
sions of the heart will contain about two
fluid ounces. They arc placed side by sid'
and are temrcd right or left, as they are il
either side.
Into the right auricle the blood from al
the veins Of the body but ore is poured. Int,
the lett auricle the blood comes, by the pul
monary veins, from the lungs after its renew
al. From the auricles the blood passes int
the ventricles. From the tight vcniriclc th'
blood is forced through the pulmonary artcr,
into the lungs for fresh supply of oxygen
This it receives from the cir. From the +
VENT .clc the blood is forced into the aortl
the largest artery in the body, from whcnc
it finds its way through the whole system an'
back again iulo the right auriclc by way o
the veins. The arteries are elastic tubes
They are constantly full Of blood. Tni
makes the work of the left ycu'riclc mucl
the hardest, and its walls arc much thckc
and more powerful than those of the rirh
vcntriclc. The lining membrane of tn
heart, the cndDcardium, is continuous Will
the lininc of the arteries and veins Doubl
ings of this membrane form ilood-ga,cs-
valves - between the vGlious divislpD
of the heart; and at the exit ot TN
large arteries in the vtn,riclcs tend'nou
cords extend from the walls of the heart L
the vcnlrlcuar turiace of the valvSs. Thcs
cords are evidently intended 10 act in II sim
liar manner tp the stay.ropcs of sail
, In the large arteries the valves are dis
posed in semi. circular folds. These float wit
the ingoing stream Of blood, hut arc at one
caught when the current sets back to til
heart and cfrcctually close the vessel. Th
valves of the heart are quite comparable
those of Il pump. By this their imporlano
is best known for all must know that tn
( efficiency of n pump depends almost cXclt
, sively on its valves. by placing the ca
over the region If the hoart certain sound
are heard. Thin chest walls naturally rel
ncr these more audible. Alterations IN thes
t sounds of n permnnout character indlcat
change in the structure Of the vglvcs-rougl
ening or insuiliciency. On the outer side {
Tie wrist the pulse is bes, fclt. 1t can, hov
y the surface of the body. This event is dr
to the massage of more blood into the alrcad
full arteries The heart and crculatory n,
u narotus is very intimately connected vii
y and under the influence OF the nerves. Tn
C is shown especially well by The blushir
cheek il ia also shown by Inc wellknow
y effects unon the hcarl of ioy. fear. sorroy
a hate and rage.
o There are many circumstances and SUI
4 stances MS well that affect the heart iniui
a ously. These ought TO be generally know
but mere posscssjon of this knowledge mar
q q fcstly can avail nothing while the iudicio
: opnlicaiion of useful facts may snare mai