Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-12-04
MUSCLES AND SKIN.
Or. LEVY GIVES THE scHoOL-TEAcH-
ERs AN INTERESTING LECTURE.
Different Kinds OF Action and Power Tx
planned. with Some Good Advice as
20 Exercise and Bathing.

an examination In physiology.
The superintendents of the various
cities and counties have been directed TO
carry out this order, and in pursuance
thereof Superintendent W. F. Fox, of
Richmond, has arranged with DR.. II. II.
Levy, professor of physiology at the
Virginia Medical College. to deliver
course Of lectures to the white teachers
and principals of this city. From TO 6
o'clock on Wednesday afternoon is the
time that has been selected.
YESTERDAYS DISCOURSE.
The second lecture Of the series was
given at the college yesterday evening,
the topic being "Muscles and Skin"
DR.. Levy used the well-worn and par
TALLY disabled college skeleton with
which to illustrate his remarks, supple
menting it with charts and models.
Muscles were first dealt with. By
means of the skeleton Ithe Doctor de-
monstrated that without muscles the
bones would be beautiful but useless
mechanism Nearly all movements Of
the body are muscular. The expulsion
OF mucous from the throat was given as
the exception to the rule.
ALL FLESH IS MUSCLE.
Flesh, not the skin, is chiefly muscle,
! continued the Professor All the red
tissue seen in freshly cut meat is muscle.
/ 1T is muscular tissue that moves the
/ bones. Muscles are in layers one above
/ the other, the second being exposed upon
/ the removal Of the first. In round num-
/ bers there are about 800 muscles in the
I body, varying greatly III size. The
longest reaches from the top of the hip
| bone TO the knee and is about two
/ feet in length. The shortest is in the ear,
being only one-half inch long and
weighing only one ten-thousandth part as
much az the former AS a whole the
muscles weigh more than the bones to
which they are attached, the protu-
berances on the latter being for that pur
pose. The action of the muscle is by
leverage. 1t isi,muscular fibre which
causes boiled meat to drop 10 pieces. |
These fbres are generally in bundles,
the muscular cells being one siX-hun- !
dreatb OF an inch III width and piled one !
upon the other.
INO hlNDH VI IONths
Dr. Levy then went on to explain that |
there were two kinds of muscles volun- |
tary and involuntary As an example of
the latter those OF the intestines and |
heart were cited, The cordiac organ,
though, is peculiarly constructed, COM
bining both kinds. The tongue is sup |
posed TO be manipulated by voluntary |
muscles and in some people it could be |
controlled.
The consumption Of food was given as
an illustration of the working OF the |
two kinds of muscles The chewing and |
swallowing are voluntary as soon as the |
food reaches the mouth OF the gullet it is |
seized by muscles over which the eater |
has no control.
ANTAGoNIsTTC MUSCLES.
The lower part Of calf's leg was next |
used to illustrated the sntagonistic power |
of the muscles. Attention was called to |
the connective tissue close to the bone,
without which the muscles would be an
unWieldv massand useless. The unyield-
ing qualities OF the tendons were also
commented upon.
Muscles always contract when per-
son sits down, DR.. Levy continued, and
are therefore always ready for action.
This power of contraction lies in the
muscle itself. A hot needle or electric |
current applied to living muscle or
one recently alive will cause it to con-
tract. The effect of exercise on the mus
cles is unlimited. Moderate exercise
puts them III their best condition over
exertion will wear them out. The blood |
circulation is for the benefit of the mus
cles, and moderate exercise makes the
heart pump more blood and gives sym
metry OF form.
NOT PoR CHILDREN.
Children DO not need violent exercise,
said DR.. Levy. They use all their mus
cles in romping and playing. Calisthe-
nics are beneficial to thegirl Just growing
10 womanhood or TO the over-studious
youth. Professors of physical culture
ere employed in the larger colleges.
They make regular examinations Of the
students and ascertain in what respect
their muscles are undeveloped, aud when
their advice is followed the men invaria-
bly, 60 away much nearerphysically per-
feet than when they came.
Early in life is the time to exercise, for
later on the muscles il not developed,
become stiff and unyielding.
THEsKIN.
Coming to the second part of bis theme
the Doctor said he was prepared to con-
trovert the old adage that beauty was
skin-deep, for it was the development of
the muscles that made a pretty body.
he explained that the skin is in layers
which are perpetually growing upwards,
making 1t the most rapidly-changing
part of the body, The second Of these
holds the pigment which gives color to
the body. "Gross bumps and
"fesh worms, il was explained,
are secretions of fat that should
have come out of the pores and to lubri-
cate the skin and keep it pliable. The
perspiratory glands are innumerable,
there being ten times as many IN some
parts of the body as in others. These regu-
late the animal heat Perspiration as a
cooling process by means of evaporation
was fully explained. The skin has much
more blood than the muscles, and it Is
this that is cooled.
BATHING NECESSARY.
The care of the skin was next dwelt
upon by the lecturer, who explained that
simply washing the exposed surface Of
the body was not sufficient. The skin
should be brushed briskly once day.
In addition to cleanliness this is
splendid exercise for the muscles. A
bath should always be followed by rub
hing. The temperature of the water
should be agreeable. Persons shocked
by cold water should not use it. A
warm bath is too relaxing, tepid one is
better. A cold shower bath is good for
those who can stand 1t.
DR.. Levy ended his lecture at 6 o'clock
exactly, bnt the teachers being aroused
so persistently and evinced SO much IN
terest by asking innumerable questions
that it was fully half an hour later be-
fore the last of them left the hall.
The interest evinced was quite re-
markable and thev made splendid pupils