Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-09-14
OUR NERVES.
Some Interesting Facts About These
Important organs.
philadelphia Times.l

tthi"'sfPh'e Ah'',"sl
The persons who are not familiar with
the structure Of the human body can
best obtain rational ideas Of the nervous
system by comparing it TO the electric
apparatus In common use for commune
eating between distant points. Herein
the nerve centers. the brain, spinal cord
and nervous ganglions are regarded as
batteries or telegraph offices, and the
nerves as the wires that complete the
circuit. Insulated wires, such as are
used for submarine telegraph cables.
illustrate especially well the distribution
OF the nerve elements. The life work
of these organs is not shown by post.
mortem studies, consequently we do not
know what changes, If any, occur in the
nerves during the transit of nervous inn
pulses.
Many persons appear totally uncon-
scious OF the existence OF their nerves,
and these persons are very fortunate, for
on all sides complaints of nervousness
are heard, and the extraordinary preva-
lence of nervous disorders nowadays can
scarcely have escaped the notice OF even
n casual observer. Nervousness is essen.
tally loss Of power la tue nerves, and
according 10 Beard, the author of
"American Nervousness, this were
much better expressed nervelessness.
The symptoms Of this are we'll known
to most people. At all events the per-
sons who are restless, who have fushcs
of heat, whose heart paipitates on the
slightest excitement, and those who
have twitehings Of the muscles Of vari-
GUS parts Of the body and divers other
vague and transient sensations Of like
character, invariably call themselves
NERVOUS" likely enough for want of q
better word.
The causes of the complaints just
named have been detailed at great
length. Inheritance. Indigestion, at
mospheric conditions aud the exnctions
OF modern life are, however, worthy of
especial note in this particular. Inher-
tied nervousness is explained readily
enough by the old saying, like father,
like son." and it is not improbable that
q child who had not inherited this dis
position, but who was so unfortunate as
to be surrounded by nervous persons,
might easily be inclined that way.
How Indigestion may cause nervous
u6o3 10 Wtli bhoWh " tht ttstS Ahf6
from well known writer on the subject,
who said: Though there may be much
force in the nervous system, yet If d.
gestion be clogged and waste matters
suffered to accumulate in the digestive
apparatus and circulate through the ner.
vous system, the amount Of force gener-'
ated and usable will be much diminished.
Under these circumstances we may sup
ply food, and the best Of food, in any
amount, and the person will still be fee
ble." "We are nervous, says the same
writer, "because the rapid evaporation
in our dry outdoor air and in our over
heated rooms heightens the rapidity Of
the processes of waste and repair In the
brain and nervous system, and because
of the exhausting stimulation of aIterna-
tions Of terrid heat and irigid cold, and
this nervousness is increased by the strcss
Of poverty, the urgency of finding and
holding means of living, the scarcity Of
inherited wealth and the Just desire OF
making and maintaining fortunes.