Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-08-05
THL BODY AND ITS HEALTH.

INFLUENCE OF Colon ON THE OPTTo
NERvEs.-M. Chauvcau has stated to
the Paris Academy of Sciences that he
dnds that the excitation of the rctina Of
one eye by colored light influences the
optic nerves Of the other eye as well, In
[slch = manner, toe, tisats whslc the eye
acted upon Indirectly see the color, the
retinn actually excited sees the compile
mentary color. On observing white
surface with one eye for short time
through a bit of colorcd glass, then,
when the glass is removed, the white
surface appears to be tinted with tho
complementary color of the glass--a CON-
parativcly well known fact, of course,
but what NJ. Chauveau points out is that
il the eye first used to be closed and the
white surface examined with the other,
it appears to bc of the same color as 10
the glass. This being the case, the in
hteresting fact would appear to be shown
THAT the optic nerves of the closed eye
arc acted upon by those of the cxamin-
ing eye.
/ MOUTH BREATHING CHILDREN.-The
dangers to children accustomed to
breathing through the mouth Instead of
the nose nave been quite seriously treated
of late, in papers on the subject by ply
isicians in Germany, France, England,
!etc., the principal disturbance accom-
Epanying the habit being described as in
ability to fix the attention on any more or
less serious subject, and with this impair
ment of the attention goes feebleness of
memory and tendency to headache, while
in some cases the organs of sight and
hearing are succcssively affected, con-
junctivitis and hardness of hearing being
the results. In Germany, some time since,
DIR. Max Bresgen placed before the Minis.
ter of Public Instruction a request that o
regular medical supervision should take
place in schools, especially with regard to
the state of the upper respiratory organs
of the school children. In France, also
DR.. Raulin has published the anne views,
laying great stress on the necessity Of
regular medical inspection not only of
the schools, but also Of the school child
rcn, especially with respect to the state
Fof their nasal respiration. DIR. Guyc of
London also declares that, SO long as
medical school inspectors are wanting,
teachers should br impressed with the
importance Of giving attention to the
Equestion of mouth breathing, especially
in children intellectually backward.
EFFECTS OF EXERCISE. Muscular con-
traction exerts a pressure upon the veins
and lymphatics, thus pushing forward
and facilitating the flow of veinous blood
Ito the heart. In this manner the cxcre-
Ftion Of the products of tissue waste is
enhanced. These matters are washed out
of the tissues by the blood and lymph
and after their return to the heart pass
Through the lungs, where the carbonic
acid is given off, then through the gen.
Eeral circulation, the remaining substances
being eliminated by the skin and kid
! Gneys. When these matters, some of
which are highly poisonous, collect in
abnormal quantities in the system, they
become more or less dangerous; even
such mild symptoms as headache, drow-
siness and general lassitude in those who
lead scdentary life may probably In
many instances be traced to their toxic
effects. BY muscular exercise, which
hastcns the elimination of these sub
stances, therefore, many slight ailments,
which, however, are sufficient to make
labor burdcnsome and rob life Of many of
its pleasures, may be avoided.
The circulation is controlled mainly
by the action Of the heart. When the
activity Of this organ is increased, there
fore, the general circulation will be i'm
proved. Now, the heart is stimulated in
action by the presence of blood in its
cavities, and muscular exercise, by has
tening the flow of venous blood, will be
instrumental in sending more fluid
through them in given period Of time,
end consequently in stimulating the or
gan to increased activity. As many
diseases, prominent among which arc
those of the abdominal i. I'd pelvic organs,
arc the consequences Of congestion, and
as good circulation does much for the
prevention of such congestion, muscular
exercise, by improving the general cir
culation both by increasing the activity
of the heart and aiding in the vcnous re-
turn, will do much to prevont large
class of diseases. J. M. Rice, in the
Popular Science Monthly.