The People's Common Sense Medical Adviser in Plain English Part 6

It is difficult to estimate the amount of air taken into the lungs at each inspiration, as the quant.i.ty varies according to the condition, size, and expansibility of the chest, but in ordinary breathing it is supposed to be from twenty to thirty cubic inches. The consumption of oxygen is greater when the temperature is low, and during digestion. All the respiratory movements, so far as they are independent of the will of the individual, are controlled by that part of the brain called the _medulla oblongata_. The respiratory, or breathing process, is not inst.i.tuted for the benefit of man alone, for we find it both in the lower order of animals and in plant life. Nature is very economical in the arrangement of her plans, since the carbonic acid, which is useless to man, is indispensable to the existence of plants, and the oxygen, rejected by them, is appropriated to his use. In the lower order of animals, the respiratory act is similar to that of the higher types, though not so complex; for there are no organs of respiration, as the lungs and gills are called. Thus, the higher the animal type, the more complex its organism. The effect of air upon the color of the blood is very noticeable. If a quant.i.ty be drawn from the body, thus being brought into contact with the air, its color gradually changes to a brighter hue. There is a marked difference between the properties of the venous and the arterial blood.

The venous blood is carried, as we have previously described, to the right side of the heart and to the lungs, where it is converted into arterial blood. It is now of uniform quality, ready to be distributed throughout the body, and capable of sustaining life and nourishing the tissues. Man breathes by means of lungs; but who can understand their wonderful mechanism, so perfect in all its parts? Though every organ is subservient to another, yet each has its own office to perform. The minute air-cells are for the aeration of the blood; the larger bronchial tubes ramify the lungs, and suffuse them with air; the trachea serves as a pa.s.sage for the air to and from the lungs, while at its upper extremity is the larynx, which has been fitly called the organ of the human voice. At its extremity we find a sort of shield, called the _epiglottis_, the office of which is supposed to be to prevent the intrusion of foreign bodies.

CHAPTER IX.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ANATOMY

THE SKIN.

Through digestion and respiration, the blood is continually supplied with material for its renewal; and, while the nutritive const.i.tuents of the food are retained to promote the growth of the body, those which are useless or injurious are in various ways expelled. There are, perhaps, few parts of the body more actively concerned in this removal than the skin.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 46: An ideal view of the papillae. 1, 1. Cutis vera.

2.2. Papillary layer. 3, 3. Arteries of the papillae.

4, 4. Nerves of the papillae. 5, 5. Veins of the papillae.]

The skin is a membranous envelope covering the entire body. It consists of two layers, termed the Cutis Vera, or true skin, and the Epidermis, or cuticle. The _Cutis Vera_ is composed of fibers similar to those of the cellular tissue. It consists of white and yellow fibers, which are more densely woven near the surface than deeper in the structure; the white give strength, the yellow strength and elasticity combined. The true skin may be divided into two layers, differing in their characteristics, and termed respectively the superficial or papillary layer, and the deep or fibrous layer. Upon the external surface, are little conical prominences, known as _papillae_. The papillae are irregularly distributed over the body, in some parts being smaller and more numerous than in others, as on the finger-ends, where their summits are so intimately connected as to form a tolerably smooth surface. It is owing to their perfect development, that the finger-tips are adapted to receive the most delicate impressions of touch. Although every part of the skin is sensitive, yet the papillae are extremely so, for they are the princ.i.p.al means through which the impressions of objects are communicated. Each papilla not only contains a minute vein and artery, but it also incloses a loop of sensitive nerves. When the body is exposed to cold, these papillae can be more distinctly seen in the form of prominences, commonly known as "goose-pimples."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 47.

A section of the skin, showing its arteries and veins. A, A. Arterial branches. B, B. Capillaries in which the branches terminate. C. The venous trunk into which the blood from the capillaries flows.]

The internal, or fibrous layer of the skin, contains numerous depressions, each of which furnishes a receptacle for fat. While the skin is supplied with a complete net-work of arteries, veins, and nerves, which make it sensitive to the slightest touch, it also contains numerous lymphatic vessels, so minute that they are invisible to the naked eye.

Among the agents adapted for expelling the excretions from the system, few surpa.s.s the _Sudoriferous Glands_. These are minute organs which wind in and out over the whole extent of the true skin, and secrete the perspiration. Though much of it pa.s.ses off as insensible transpiration, yet it often acc.u.mulates in drops of sweat, during long-continued exercise or exposure to a high temperature. The office of the perspiration is two-fold. It removes noxious matter from the system, and diminishes animal heat, and thereby equalizes the temperature of the body. It also renders the skin soft and pliable, thus better adapting it to the movements of the muscles. The _Sebaceous Glands_, which are placed in the true skin, are less abundant where the sudoriferous glands are most numerous, and _vice versa_. Here, as elsewhere, nature acts with systematic and intelligent design. The perspiratory glands are distributed where they are most needed,--in the eyelids, serving as lubricators; in the ear pa.s.sages, to produce the _cerumen_, or wax, which prevents the intrusion of small insects; and in the scalp, to supply the hair with its natural pomatum.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 48.

A perspiratory gland, highly magnified. 1, 1. The gland. 2, 2.

Excretory ducts uniting to form a tube which tortuously perforates the cuticle at 3, and opens obliquely on its surface at 4.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 49.

A representation of oil-tubes from the scalp and nose.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 50.

Anatomy of the skin. 5, 5. Cutis vera (true skin).

4, 4. Nervous tissue. 3, 3. Sensitive layer in which are seen the nerves. 2, 2. The layer containing pigment cells. 1, 1. Epidermis (cuticle).]

The _Epidermis_, or _Cuticle_, so called because it is _placed upon the skin,_ is the outer layer of the skin. Since it is entirely dest.i.tute of nerves and blood-vessels, it is not sensitive. Like the cutis vera, it has two surfaces composed of layers. The internal, or _Rete Mucosum,_ which is made up chiefly of pigment cells, is adapted to the irregularities of the cutis vera, and sends prolongations into all its glandular follicles. The external surface, or epidermis proper, is elastic, dest.i.tute of coloring matter, and consists of mere h.o.r.n.y scales. As soon as dry, they are removed in the form of scurf, and replaced by new ones from the cutis vera. These scales may be removed by a wet-sheet pack, or by friction. The cuticle is constantly undergoing renewal. This layer serves to cover and protect the nervous tissue of the true skin beneath. We may here observe that the cuticle contains the pigment for coloring the skin. In dark races, as the negro, the cuticle is very thick and filled with black pigment. The radiation of animal heat is dependent upon the thickness and color of this cuticle. Thus, in the dark races, the pigment cells are most numerous, and in proportion as the skin is dark or fair do we find these cells in greater or lesser abundance. The skin of the Albino is of pearly whiteness, devoid even of the pink or brown tint which that of the European always possesses. This peculiarity must be attributed to the absence of pigment cells which, when present, always present a more or less dark color. The theory that _climate_ alone is capable of producing all these diversities is simply absurd. The Esquimaux, who live in Greenland and the arctic regions of America, are remarkable for the darkness of their complexion. Humboldt remarks that the American tribes of the tropical regions have no darker skin than the mountaineers of the temperate zone. Climate may _modify_ the complexion, but it cannot _make_ it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 51.

Structure of the human hair. _A_. External surface of the shaft, showing the transverse striae and jagged boundary, caused by the imbrications of the scaly cortex. _B_. Longitudinal section of the shaft, showing the fibrous character of the medullary substance, and the arrangement of the pigmentary matter. _C_.

Transverse sections, showing the distinction between the cortical and medullary substances, and the central collection of pigmentary matter, sometimes found in the latter. Magnified 310 diameters.]

_Hairs_ are h.o.r.n.y appendages of the skin, and, with the exception of the hands, the soles of the feet, the backs of the fingers and toes, between the last joint and the nail, and the upper eyelids, are distributed more or less abundantly over every part of the surface of the body. Over the greater part of the surface the hairs are very minute, and in some places are not actually apparent above the level of the skin; but the hair of the head, when permitted to reach its full growth, attains a length of from twenty inches to a yard, and, in rare instances, even six feet. A hair may be divided into a middle portion, or _shaft_, and two extremities; a peripheral extremity, called the _point;_ and a central extremity, inclosed within the hair sac, or follicle, termed the _root_.

The root is somewhat greater in diameter than the shaft, and cylindrical in form, while its lower part expands into an oval ma.s.s, called the _bulb_. The shaft of the hair is not often perfectly cylindrical, but is more or less flattened, which circ.u.mstance gives rise to waving and curling hair; and, when the flattening is spiral in direction, the curling will be very great. A hair is composed of three different layers of cell-tissues: a loose, cellulated substance, which occupies its center, and const.i.tutes the _medulla_, or pith; the fibrous tissue, which incloses the medulla, and forms the chief bulk of the hair; and a thin layer, which envelops this fibrous structure, and forms the smooth surface of the hair. The medulla is absent in the downy hairs, but in the coa.r.s.er cla.s.s it is always present, especially in white hair. The color of hair is due partly to the granules and partly to an inter-granular substance, which occupies the interstices of the granules and the fibers. The quant.i.ty of hair varies according to the proximity and condition of the follicles. The average number of hairs of the head may be stated at 1,000 in a superficial square inch; and, as the surface of the scalp has an area of about one hundred and twenty superficial square inches, the average number of hairs on the entire head is 120,000. The hair possesses great durability, as is evinced by its endurance of chemical processes, and by its discovery, in the tombs of mummies more than two thousand years old. The hair is remarkable for its elasticity and strength. Hair is found to differ materially from horn in its chemical composition. According to Vauquelin, its const.i.tuents are animal matter, a greenish-black oil, a white, concrete oil, phosphate of lime, a trace of carbonate of lime, oxide of manganese, iron, sulphur, and silex. Red hair contains a reddish oil, a large proportion of sulphur, and a small quant.i.ty of iron. White hair contains a white oil, and phosphate of magnesia. It has been supposed that hair grows after death, but this theory was probably due to the lengthening of the hair by the absorption of moisture from the body or atmosphere.

The _nails_ const.i.tute another cla.s.s of appendages of the skin. They consist of thin plates of h.o.r.n.y tissue, having a root, a body, and a free extremity. The root, as well as the lateral portion, is implanted in the skin, and has a thin margin which is received into a groove of the true skin. The under surface is furrowed, while the upper is comparatively smooth. The nails grow in the same manner as the cuticle.

CHAPTER X.

PHYSIOLOGICAL ANATOMY.

SECRETION.

The term _Secretion_, in its broadest sense, is applied to that process by which substances are separated from the blood, either for the reparation of the tissues or for excretion. In the animal kingdom this process is less complicated than in vegetables. In the former it is really a _separation_ of nutritive material from the blood. The process, when effected for the removal of effete matter, is, in a measure, chemical, and accordingly the change is greater.

Three elementary const.i.tuents are observed in secretory organs: the cells, a bas.e.m.e.nt membrane, and the blood-vessels. Obviously, the most _essential_ part is the _cell_.

The physical condition necessary for the healthy action of the secretory organs is a copious supply of blood, in which the nutritive materials are abundant. The nervous system also influences the process of secretion to a great extent. Intense emotion will produce tears, and the sight of some favorite fruit will generally increase the flow of saliva.

The process of secretion depends upon the anatomical and chemical const.i.tution of the cell-tissues. The princ.i.p.al secretions are (1), Perspiration; (2), Tears; (3), Sebaceous matter; (4), Mucus; (5), Saliva; (6), Gastric juice; (7), Intestinal juice; (8), Pancreatic juice; (9), Bile; (10), Milk.

PERSPIRATION is a watery fluid secreted in minute glands, which are situated in every part of the skin, but are more numerous on the anterior surfaces of the body. Long thread-like tubes, only 1/100th of an inch in diameter, lined with epithelium, penetrate the skin, and terminate in rounded coils, enveloped by a net-work of capillaries, which supply the secretory glands with blood. It is estimated by Krause that the entire number of perspiratory glands is two million three hundred and eighty-one thousand two hundred and forty-eight, and the length of each glandular coil being 1/16 of an inch, we may estimate the length of tubing to be not less than two miles and a third. This secretion has a specific gravity of 1003.5, and, according to Dr.

Dalton, is composed of

Water, 995.50 Chloride of Sodium, 2.23 Chloride of Pota.s.sium, 0.24 Sulphate of Soda and Pota.s.sa, 0.01 Salts of organic acids, with Soda and Pota.s.sa, 2.02 ------- 1000.00

Traces of organic matter, mingled with a free volatile acid, are also found in the perspiration. It is the acid which imparts to this secretion its peculiar odor, and acid reaction. The process of its secretion is continuous, but, like all bodily functions, it is subject to influences which augment or r.e.t.a.r.d its activity. If, as is usually the case when the body is in a state of repose, evaporation prevents its appearance in the _liquid_ form, it is called _invisible_ or _insensible perspiration_. When there is unusual muscular activity, it collects upon the skin, and is known as _sensible perspiration_. This secretion performs an important office in the animal economy, by maintaining the internal temperature at about 100 Fahr. Even in the Arctic regions, where the explorer has to adapt himself to a temperature of 40 to 80 below zero, the generation of heat in the body prevents the internal temperature from falling below this standard. On the contrary, if the circulation is quickened by muscular exertion, the warmer blood flowing from the internal organs into the capillaries, raises the temperature of the skin, secretion is augmented, the moisture exudes from the pores, and perceptible evaporation begins. A large portion of the animal heat is thrown off in this process, and the temperature of the skin is reduced. A very warm, dry atmosphere can be borne with impunity but if moisture is introduced, evaporation ceases, and the life of the animal is endangered. Persons have been known to remain in a temperature of about 300 Fahr. for some minutes without unpleasant effects. Three conditions may be a.s.signed as effective causes in r.e.t.a.r.ding or augmenting this cutaneous secretion, variations in the temperature of the atmosphere, muscular activity, and influences which affect the nerves. The emotions exert a remarkable influence upon the action of the perspiratory glands. Intense fear causes great drops of perspiration to acc.u.mulate on the skin, while the salivary glands remain inactive.

TEARS. The lachrymal glands are small lobular organs, situated at the outer and upper orbit of the eye, and have from six to eight ducts, which open upon the conjunctiva, between the eyelid and its inner fold.

This secretion is an alkaline, watery fluid. According to Dr. Dalton, its composition is as follows:

Water, 882.0 Alb.u.minous matter, 5.0 Chloride of Sodium, 13.0 Mineral Salts, a trace, ------ 1000.0

The function of this secretion is to preserve the brilliancy of the eye.

The tears are spread over this organ by the reflex movement of the eyelid, called winking, and then collected in the _puncta lachrymalia_ and discharged into the nasal pa.s.sage. This process is constant during life. The effect of its repression is seen in the dim appearance of the eye after death. Grief or excessive laughter usually excite these glands until there is an overflow.

SEBACEOUS MATTER. Three varieties of this secretion are found in the body. A product of the sebaceous glands of the skin is found in those parts of the body which are covered with hairs; also, on the face and the external surface of the organs of generation. The _sebaceous glands_ consist of a group of flask-shaped cavities, opening into a common excretory duct. Their secretion serves to lubricate the hair and soften the skin. The _ceruminous glands_ of the _external auditory meatus_, or outer opening of the ear, are long tubes terminating in a glandular coil, within which is secreted the glutinous matter of the ear. This secretion serves the double purpose of moistening the outer surface of the membrana tympani, or ear-drum, and, by its strong odor, of preventing the intrusion of insects. The _Meibomian glands_ are arranged in the form of cl.u.s.ters along the excretory duct, which opens just behind the roots of the eyelashes. The oily nature of this secretion prevents the tears, when not stimulated by emotion, from overflowing the lachrymal ca.n.a.l.

MUCUS. The mucous membranes are provided with minute glands which secrete a viscid, gelatinous matter, called _mucus_. The peculiar animal matter which it contains is termed _mucosin_. These glands are most numerous in the Pharynx, Esophagus, Trachea, Bronchia, v.a.g.i.n.a and Urethra. They consist of a group of secreting sacs, terminating at one extremity in a closed tube, while the other opens into a common duct.

The mucus varies in composition in different parts of the body; but in all, it contains a small portion of insoluble animal matter. Its functions are threefold. It lubricates the membranes, prevents their injury, and facilitates the pa.s.sage of food through the alimentary ca.n.a.l.

SALIVA. This term is given to the first of the digestive fluids, which is secreted in the glands of the mouth. It is a viscid, alkaline liquid, with a specific gravity of about 1005. If allowed to stand, a whitish precipitate is formed. Examinations with the microscope show it to be composed of minute, granular cells and oil globules, mingled with numerous scales of epithelium. According to Bidder and Schmidt, the composition of saliva is as follows:

Water, 995.16 Organic matter, 1.34 Sulpho-cyanide of Pota.s.sium, 0.06 Phosphates of Sodium, Calcium and Magnesium, .98 Chlorides of Sodium and Pota.s.sium, .84 Mixture of Epithelium, 1.62 ------- 1000.00

Two kinds of organic matter are present in the saliva; one, termed _ptyalin_, imparts to the saliva its viscidity, and it obtained from the secretions of the parotid, submaxillary and sublingual glands; another, which is not glutinous, is distinguished by the property of coagulating when subjected to heat. The saliva is composed of four elementary secretions, derived respectively, from the mucous follicles of the mouth, and the parotid, the submaxillary, and the sublingual glands. The process of its secretion is constant, but is greatly augmented by the contact of food with the lining membrane. The saliva serves to moisten the triturated food, facilitate its pa.s.sage, and has the property of converting starch into sugar; but the latter quality is counteracted by the action of the gastric juice of the stomach.