The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1894-02-09
GOD IN NATURE.

ever waiting. We set aside a basket
of peaches in short time black
spots appear, and we call it decay.
Oxygen is corroding them to form
other inferior compounds. But place
the fruit in a can, heat it, thus expell
ing the oxygen, and hermetically seal
it, and there is no corrosion the fruit
preserves. The air rushes in through
The damper of stove and the oxygen
attacks the fuel. A plaster does not
cure the wound of your finger it only
prevents the oxygen from attacking
The exposed nerve, and nature does
the healing. Oxygen decays our teeth.
The hydrogen and oxygen of cistern
becomes foul uncovering it the oxy-
gen rushes in, picks up the impurities
and goes to the bottom. The sedi.
ment is but the ashes of the combus-
ton The blacksmith draws red
hot iron from his forge, scales fly in
every direction, because the oxygen
attacks it. Oxygen is drawn into our
blood through the lungs, and it ferrets
out the impurities, the blood returns
to the lungs after making its voyage
through the channels OF the system,
and fresh oxygen meets the impurities
there and relivens the blood, and our
breath is carbonic acid gas, poisonous.
Our bodies are stoves, our food the
fuel. Oxygen attacks the fuel and
forms the combustion. This food
fuel gives heat and motion. Every
healthy man must be relieved of effete
matter about 7 ounces daily. In the
course of few years all Of the old
body is gone and we are physically
new. 4 fuel meal fortihes us against
cold. eat good warm breakfast
and | can ride far better through the
cold Should the fuel be deficient in
the body the oxygen attacks the fat,
then the muscles, then the nerves and
brain, and this is starvation. Unusual
exercise demands more oxygen, hence
we pant or breathe more rapidly to
get it. The organs of the body during
sleep ale quiet except the heart and
that does require SO much oxygen.
The heart wears out in 80 days and
we have new one, through the laws
Of waste and supply.
Funny, isn't it, that in order to live
we must be constantly diving, and that
we couldn't live unless constantly
dying. Every movement is wear and
tear Of muscle, every thought, Of the
brain. Constant loss and constant
supply-constantly dying in order to
live
Oxygen is the great scavengcr OF the
world 1t penetrates every nook and
corner, attacking everywhere, corro-
ding, destroying, changing into new
elements and alternatives, producing
new compounds, pulling down and
building up, destroying and yet lile
giving and life sustaining. We couldn't
live FIVE minutes without oxygen, yet
1t attacks us all the while and robbing
us of life and imparting new life. A
leaf falls and oxygen attacks 1t and
robs it of life and feeds the soil. A
limb withers and the oxygen decays 1t
and finds the soil or carbonlzes 1t
Oxygen attacks the flesh of defunct
animal till the bones are left. Every
grown person uses daily u pounds of
oxygen. Undiluted oxygen would set
the world on fire, metals melt like
running oil. Nitrogen is the conser-
vative clement that unites with the
oxygen and curbs its power. Pure
oxygen would hurry our lives so rapid
ly that they would wear out with the
intensity of excitement in a few days.
Hydrogen. Water, perhaps composes
four.ffths of our flesh and blood.
Man is described as "I2 pounds OF
solid matter, wet up with six pals OF
water" All plumpness of flesh and
beauty of cheek are furnished by the
juices of the system. We need about
!, pnts of water per day. Sunhsh are
little more than organized water.
Bread is half water, watermelons 90
per cent, cucumbers 81, turnlps and
potatoes in proportion.
Cold contracts, then it slowly ex'
pands, cooling down to 81 degrees,
when its crystals suddenly dart out at
angles to each olher increasing in size
till ice is formed, and this is found on
the surface because it is lighter than
water. Water is the common carrier
of creation. 1t not only vets our lips,
lays the dust in the street, but dis
solves the elements of the soil, climb
ing as sap through the capillary tubes
of the plant and gives life to the leaf.
1t comes to us in the clouds as ram,
bringing the heat Of the tropics, while
1t floats the ice of our river and streams
to warmer seas. 1t washes down the
mountain side, bearing mineral matter
to fertilize the valleys. 1t propels
water wheels working forges and be
comes the grand motive power of the