The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1894-05-17
WONDERS or the HUMAN LUNGS.
SIX Hundred MILLION AR Cells Aid I'm
Purifying the Blood.

The importance of the lungs as a
means OF publication OF the blood and Of
promoting the general welfare Of the
human organism may be inferred from
their protection, so nearly surrounded by
strong bony structures. The same may
be inferred from their constant action,
without a minutes vacation, ordinarily.
at any one time, from the dawn Of life to
its close.
Nor are these five lobe servants, in their
general capacity, controlled by mental
influences with power - but continue
their activity whether we are awake or
asleep, whether we are sensible or in
sensible - managing their own affairs.
Their appropriate mission is the supply Of
pure air to the system, the most i'm.
portant design OF which is its purifica-
ton, carrying off particles Of impure and
dead matter, which are ever accumulat-
ing as the result OF age and the exercise
OF the organic functions.
To effect this very important result,
this publication OF body constantly be-
coming impure, of necessity, there are
600 .000, 900 (by estimate) of air cells, all
Of these being more or less inflated by
each breath. As small as these must be
it is estimated that the outer surface has
an average OF five minute blood vessels,
containing the blood from the general
systtm sent there for revitalizing, that
it may continue to sustain and care for
the body.
The theory is that the iron in the blood
attracts the oxygen OF the breath through
the membranes, resulting in an actual
combustion, burning waste matters, and,
10 this way, sustaining the warmth Of
the body, our clothing doing nothing in
this regard beyond regulating the escape
OF the heat thus produced, and preventing
the natural ingress OF the cold from with
out. After the burning Of these refuse
matters--by which a deadly gas is pro.
duced, as in all combustion, which, with
what we may call ashes, are drawn
through these membranes, entering the
air cells, soon to be thrown out by the
expired breath, as this gas Is particularly
poisonous to the lungs.
That such impurities may not be re-
breathed they ascend, being lighter than
the cool air, till the poison gas becomes
cool. when it falls to the surface OF the
earth, v here it is absorbed as one OF the
most important Of the fertilizers, vegeta.
tion being sustained more in its work OF
purifying the air than by the soil. The
average capacity of the lungs of full
sized man is about one gallon, though
only about one-half of the air is thrown
out at any one time, the rest remaining.
aiding in the publication OF the body.
1t is estimated that the lungs are sup
piled annually with 100 900 cubic feet OF
air, breathing 100000 times, purifying
$500 tons OF blood. In view Of such q
stupendous amount OF toll performed by
the lungs, with the importance of this
publication of the body, without which
health and life can be continued but a
short time, it is of the utmost importance
that we have generous supply Of pure
air. while the natural supply would be
sufficient, probably. il the population OF
the earth should be increased hundred
fold, particularly since the vegetable
world is constantly employed in its puri-
fication. We have simply to open our
doors and windows, freely breathing our
part, in doing which we shall not rob our
mel ghbors.