Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-04-25


Biography Pound Existing In All AMI
NAL Bodlcs-simpie Explanation
Of Its Essential Features.
To-day have been Watching my
two cats-thc black Professor" and
his maternal ancester--playing in tho
dinlng-room. Despite the lady's age
she retains much OF the spirit OF her
youth. and docs not object TO a romp
with her good-natured son. Now and
then feline temper will exhibit itself
In snarl which Invariably comes
from the side Of tho mother cat and
then Professor" scuttles of with the
dexterity that is born OF sheer alarm
OF claws and teeth as means OF ma
ternal revenge. Like two weary FEM
GERS. tho cats have been thrusting and
parrying at one another this morning.
Facing one another. they have stood
like feline statues, immovable and in
statue-lixe repose. Yes every nerve
was on the strain. The one watches
the other. eager TO anticipate attack
or retreat; and. on the slightest move
ment, the battle royal was begun
anew. II Is this alacrity of nerve TO
respond 10 the stimulation OF outward
things which is exercising my mind
to-day. Whether in cat or IN man, In
worm or in mollusk, the way OF the
nerves seems to be identical.
Underlying all the varied phases of
nervous action. we find one great and
guiding principle. for the first eluci-
dation OF which we are indebted 70
the genius Of the late DIR. Marshall
Hall The principle is known as that
Of reflex action, and one or two sim
pie illustrations will familiarize us
with its nature and modus operandi.
/ am crossing the street, and hear the
sharp trot OF a cab-horse just behind
me. Anxious to avoid accidents, l
quicken my steps and reach the oppo-
site pavement in safety. What has
been the nature and operation OF the
nervous mechanism in this case?
Waves OF sound from the cabs motion
first Of all were received by the drum
Of the ear, we're transmitted to the
inner ear, we're modified and assorted,
so as TO reach the brain as "sensa-
lions OF sound. and we're finally re-
ceived and dealt with by that part OF
the brain set apart for the control OF
the hearing sense. Thereupon, con-
sciousness OF danger to my per-
sonality was awoke. probably be-
cause the hearing part OF the
brain communicated with the intel
lectual centers At any rate, the re-
suit Of sound-waves striking my ear
wis the awakening Of my mind 10 the
risk ! ran In crossing the street Now,
this first piece of nervous play only
goes so far as TO include the convey
ance 20 the brain OF a message (or
''sensationp) from the outer world. 1t
Is clear that, In order 10 escape dan
ger, must possess means OF acting,
like an intelligent policemen. upon
'information received" Accordingly
the sensation OF sound sooner or later
Is reflected" from tae brain centers
TO other parts OF the body-namely,
the muscles The latter organs are
stimulated to greater activity, and /
am speedily landed ON the opposite
pavement out OF the way Of the cab.
Notice. then, that this illustration
presents us with plain. unvarnished
story OF that ''rehex action" which
underlies all our nervous operations.
and which. therefore, forms the foun-
dation Of ali the acts Of our own lives,
OF those Of my cats, and. indeed, regu-
lales the acts OF all animals.
When you draw back your head to
avert threatened blow. or when your
eyolids close as some one in play
passes his hand rapidly before your
eyes, II is reflex action you again H.
lustrate In your movements The eye
receives, and It's nerve transmits,
sensation" OF sight 10 the seeing
center Of the brain. Thence is 're-
fiected" a nervous command 10 the
muscles Of the neck, or OF the eye,
lids alone, as the case may be.
When my cats are romping here and
there, each movement whereby PRO
fess0r' escapes his mothers attack Is
carried out by a similar reflex action
OF his nervous system. When you
touch the feelers on a snail's head and
see them fold up in tho marvellous
fashion they exhibit and when finally
that mollusk retires into the privacy
OF It's own apartment (as represented
by is shelD for Time, YOU are mere
~ witnessing reaex action in lower
life. The sensation OF touch has
been transmitted TO the nervous
centers OF the snail, and those
contors in their turn have issued
their commands 10 the muscles with
the result Of producing the compulsory
retirement just named. II Is with
this reflex action as though one out
side official Che sense organ) receiv-
Ing message. transmits II 70 head
quarters (the brain or nerve-centor);
while the latter. dealing with the emer-
rency which has arisen. issues the
commands 10 other officials (muscles,
for cxalnple). and those latter carry
out the movements necessary for the
welfare Of the state. Even when tho
''mouih ratersn al the sight Of dain-
tles phase Of life extremely well
seen 81 dogs who view from point Of
expectancy the dining arrangements
81 their mnsier,--it Is rehex action
which a responsible for this piece Of
rhyeiolog|cal foolishness. The sonea.
,|on oi sight conveyed 10 the brain d
''felte|41' 10 the eplirpry glands oi
ine mouth. and IhNv discharge into
~ Wpe'h ihplf spelipl aald. which,