Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1901-07-12
MARKS THE FLOW OF BLOOD
New Dcmonrtration of the Circula-
ton OF the.N Vital Fluid.

- ~ atteA
A scientific contrivance, very novel
end curious. has been acquired by the
United States bureau of education. and
some of the things it does are extreme
ly interesting. II proves the correct
ness OF the theory that the blood flows
to the brain when one thinks hard. and
II also demonstrates the fact that the
vital fuid flows out OF the head and
toward the feet when one is asleep.
The instrument is a kind of balance.
provided with shallow trough six feet
long. on which you lie down at full
length. This trough is accurately pois-
ed after the manner OF seeSaw, but Is
adjusted In such a way after you have
occupied II as 10 be perfectly horizon.
tai That is merely q matter of ar.
ranging rev screws, and you are In
position to await further proceedings.
Next you are told TO think of your
plans FOR the following day. and you
turn your mind TO that subject. which
necessarily requires some work by the
brain machinery. Lo. almost immedi,
ately the end of the trough where yo,ir
head rests begins 10 descend aud gently
and gradually il lowers itself until your
body is inclined at considerable angle
with your feet up in the air. 1t is the
blood flowing TO the brain to assist
mental activity that has upset the bal
ance and weighed down the head of the
apparatus.
For long time it has been supposed
that thinking caused the blood TO flow
TO the brain, but until now the fact has
not hQRn nrnNp1
onstrates it,
But another thing. equally interest
ing in its way. is beautifully shown by
the continuance, and that is the empty
ing of the blood from the brain during
sleep. Indulge in nap as you lie in
the trough, and as soon as you fall
asleep tne end on which your feet rest
will slowly descend. The same thing
happens IL when thus situated you are
put into hypnotic condition.
1t used to be supposed that sleep was
a result of the departure of the blood
from tie brain, but now It is known
that the latter phenomenon is only in
cidental. When the brain is in uuies-
cent state. its operations going on only
In very feeble sort OF way, as is the
fluid flows out of it toward the feet.
leaving the mental apparatus in a tenn
porarily bloodleSs condition.
The machine Is in the Office of DR..
Arthur Macdonald. who is attached
TO the bureau of education in the ca
pacity of professional wizard, as one
might say. His official quarters are
flied with all sorts of mystical instru-
ments for the study of matters con-
corning you and me about which ordi-
nary folks do not think ut all In con-
nection with the machine just describ-
ed, he has rugged up an apparatus for
observing the rapidity of the heart beat
In various attitudes. 4 little affair
called "cardiometer'' is placed over
the heart and is Joined through the me-
dium of rubber tube with n slowly
revel Yang dHlaa The dErza is s>~esed
with sheet of white paper. and n pen
automatically makes n mark on the
paper every time the heart of the per-
son lying In the trough beats.
In this manner n continuous record
Is inscribed upon the paper sheet, aud
many experiments have proved that
the heart of person lying horizontally
beats ut the slowest rate. II he is in
clined toward the perpendicular at an
angle of 10 degrees, the organ pulsates
more rapidly, and il beats fastest when
he is standing erect. The reason is
simply that the heart is obliged TO
work harder when the individual is
erect In order 10 overcome gravity and
drive the blood up to the head. In the
recumbent position it has the least la
Dor to perform. This. indeed, is one
important reason why the doctor sends
you TO bed when YOU are sick--so that
your heart may take Il rest.-Boston
Herald