The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-06-16
GOSSIP OF ADAY.
A Man Who Can Stop the
Beating Of His Heart.
Examined at Clinic at Uni
versity in Minneapolis.
Largest Seine in the Country The
Functions OF the Hair.

The class IN medicine in the university
at Minneapolis, Mimi, has just been
treated TO an exhibition by man who
can stop the action of his heart at will.
The first part the subject took In the
clinic was To show his ability TO dilato
and contract tho pupils OF his eyes nt
will. There was very perceptible dlia-
tion and contraction of the pupils. Then
By the use of the phonendoscope, having
"A number of stethoscopes attached, tho
students all listeLed 20 the beating OF the
heart, which was very strong and regular.
The stethoscopes were constructed on the
principle of the telephone, with thin vul-
canic membrane communicating with
cavity above the mem brano, from which the
sounds from the heart are sent out through
number of stothoscopes when the mem
brane Is placed over the heart u was
adapted by DIR. Wilcox, university stu
dent Under normal conditions 1t was
found that his heart was In perfect condi-
tion and exceptionally strong.
The sphygmograph. an instrument to
record the beating OF the heart through
the wrist, was next brought into applica-
tion. The record Is made on drum, ana
Is called sphymograin. The mans arms
were strapped in stationary position,
and sensitive instrument attached,
which made pcrpendicullr notion
through n space about half an inch, In re-
sponse TO the pulsations. When D..
Beard told him to inhibit, or stop, his
heart, he did so for SPACE of seven sec
onds at the first ATTEMPT before which
his pulse was l05. very regular ana strong.
AT the end Of the seven seconds there was
slight muscular twitching, and the
pulsations gradually recovered their nat
ural condition. After repeated attempts
he seemed to gain strength and attain tn
more extended accomplishments In the
line. -.
At about the ninth attempt there was
no movement of the heart for 23 seconds
during which time the patient coDyersed
with those around him to show that the
inhibition was not due to respiration;
After this accomplishment "a new smoked
sheet was placed on the drum of the
sphygmograph some amylnitritc WAS
placed on the table TO stimulate the
heart in case the experiment was carried
so far that the subject would show signs
OF failing TO recover, and he tried again
to accomplish more than at any previous
attempt. This time for 40 seconds he
stood with no drop of blood within him
stirring before the frightened faces of the
medical students, who expected To see
him fall but again there was happy
disappointment and great applause, AS
the patient, with shrug OF the shoulder
and n twitching of the head, smiled, and
the pulsation began again.
The only porceptible change noticed in
his features was his gbastly pallor. The
blood Is supposed To make the entire
circuit of the body in % seconds, so that
for the blood to remain perfectly at rest
for 40 seconds Is considered by medical
men To be wonderful accomplishment.
At one time this subject effected so long
an inhibition that iu took three hours to
restore him TO his normal condition. This
was IN the University OF Virginia. His
power Is traceable to the same source as
the other phenomena, in tho form of a
control OF tie involuntary muscular fibers
of the arterial system by virtue of which
the blood pressure is increased to the
point of reflexibly arresting the hearts
action The matter Of control may be
either partial or complete, rs the subject
desires
A short distance from Washington on
the Potomac river Is operated the largest
seine In American waters. and probably
in the world. The fishing grounds arc
loc ted ut Stony Point. Va, nearly oppo-
site Indian Head, about twenty-five miles
from Washington. the river at this point
being one and three quarters mil, wild
The seine Is owned by Captain William
Neitzey OF Washington, and used only
during the shad and herring season. or
nine or ten weeks each spring, beginning
about the middle of March. Although
this seine has been hauled on this shore
year after year for nearly a third of n cen-
tury, few people. except those directly in
terested are aware Of its size and impor-
tance. The length of the seine Is 1900
fathoms, or $500 feet, 960 feet less than
two IN lies long. Attached to each ebd
are large heavy ropes leading To the shore,
one rope being 500 feet long, and the
other 1900 feet Tonga combined length Of
seine and rope Of ~, 900 feet, or consider
ably over five miles
Prof. Exner of the Vienna Medical
Society, treating Of the functions Of the
human hair, remarks upon the somewhat
curious fact that writer's have hitherto
occupied themselves mainly with specula-
tions as to the circumstances which have
led TO man becoming dcnuded or his nairy
covering-the hairs. however, being not
only degenerated organs, but having also
TO fulfill some functions. There Is n
group. says the professor, such as the eye
lashcs and tha eye brows. for instance
which are scnsorinl gans. possessing
tnctile functions, ana, moreover, serve rs
protection 10 the eyes, and In places
whero two InteRumeptary surfaces are In
contact they act as rollers and facilitate
the gliding Of the lntegumentary surfaces
on each other. Further, there is no doubt
that the hair Of the scalp protects the head
against external cold and also prevents the
loss of heat through the very low con
ductivity of the hair cylinders and Of tho
cushion of air intermingled with them.