Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-07-01

them trcmble like timbcrs in build
ing, when there is an earthquake.
In weak man, the chamber OF the
heart l. lett open Tor an instant; the
opening and closing springs lose their
control; the heart shakes: possibly
the chordae tendineae are snapped ;
contraction or dilation OF the organ
ersues and in SON" instances death
follows.
Deafness induced by an explosion
may be traced to the sudden pressure
upon the inner oriticc of the ear and
tremendous vibration set up. The
thin, transparent, fairly bright men,
brance called the drum of the ear is
burst, like piece OF tissue paper held
taut and forcibly blown upon. Sounds
are conveyed by the beating OF tiny
mallet upon this anvil. If the beating
is too rapid and too forcible, the
membranes MAJ be rupturcd, a
temporary disturbances OF the mind
occurs and the sufferers become dizzy.
When the knees tremble it is due to
the nervous shock produced in the
cerebellum. All the nervous and
muscles are thrown in atomic con-
fractions and relaxations and the
knees appear to give way.
Nausea is also caused by the physio-
logical change that takes place in the
brain. There is pressure of blood
there, and the stomach, responding,
tries to empty itself.
The whole nervous system, which
resembles mass of fibrous roots run
ming all over the body, is affected
when a cannon as large as an 8-inch
gun is fired in close proximity. The
nervous tissue of the body is divided
into two different structural SUBJ
stances-the vascular, which is gray
ish and the fibrous, which is white.
In the former nervous Impressions
and impulses originate; by the latter
they are conducted. The gray matter
forms the essential constituent of afi
ganglionic centers. A third structure
chiefly in the sympathetic system
is called gelatinous nerve tissue.
The nervous substance is again
divided into two different systems.
The first, connected directly with the
great central mass inclosed in the
skull and the spine, is called the
cerebro.spinal system, the other called
the sympathetic system, consists OF a
double chain of ganglia with the
branches that 60 to and come from
them. The large brain, or cerebellum,
in the center of disturbance when the
visible effect is seen in trembling
knees. The cerebrum is the head
quarters where confusion succeeds the
shock of the explosion and nausea
ensues.
Other outward manifestations occur
when a gun goes off. For instance,
clothes may be torn or man even
knocked down by the conclusion. At
the battle of the Yalu, Capt. Philo
McGlifin, who was standing near o
6-inch gun, had his trousers torn into
ribbons on one leg and long rent in
the other; his uniform was as full of
holes as moth-eaten jacket, and he
was nearly blinded and stunned. Yet,
he knew the gun was going to be dis
charged. but he did not realize how
close he was standing to the muz-
zle and how the, gases liberated by
the combustion radiated in all d.
rections.
When the new battleships Kentucky
and Kearsarge have practice drills in
gunnery an interesting situation will
arise. The gun currents are placed
directly over one another. If both
guns are discharged simultaneously
the men in the metallic confines OF
the turrets will occupy unenviable
positions.