. The next few sections are short simple and mostly to the point. The author doesn't seem to dwell on the topics with excessive words. In general many of these areas discuss a number of organs are actually fairly important and it's rather odd that the author gave them so little attention compared to the drivel that the author used for complete nonsense. So here we go...
The chart brings into view the location and form of that wonderful little organ known as the Vermiform (wormlike) Appendix (appendage). It is an appendage of the Caecum, or lower bowel. Its uses as a bowel appendage have never been established. It occurs in other animals besides man. Notwithstanding its diminutive size and uselessness as an organ is the seat of that most painful and dangerous disease called Appendicitis, which was formerly attributed to the presence of some foreign body, is a grape-seed, lodged within. But it has been found inflammation of the Appendage may arise from numerous other causes. Many doctors insist that a surgical operation -- that is, the entire removal of it with knife -- is the proper curative agent, especially in acute cases. But others insist that the knife is too frequently used, and that the disease, if taken in time, is quite surely curable by other means.
Will a hundred years from the date of this book, we still don't know too much about appendix. However removal by surgery does say to be the most common form of curing this problem. A hundred years ago before antibiotics have been discovered, surgeries were much more dangerous and it is readily apparent why scientists and doctors would have considered alternate methods of curing appendicitis.
If you're looking for something funny, do a quick Google search on cures for appendicitis and you'll still find some peculiar notions of how to cure the problem.
Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:
- The Eye and Its Wonders
Beautiful Plate of the Eye.–The beautiful flesh-colored engraving at the right-hand top corner of this exquisite anatomical plate gives a strikingly natural, life-size representation of the human eye, together with its external appendages, the eyebrows, the eyelids, and the lachrymal or tear glands.
As I write this I have not published pictures of Chart 3, but will have it provided and uploaded shortly. Let me just say that this engraving or plate is well, a little under whelming. Could I call it a beauty?
No. Is it life sized? Oddly, not really. You’ll see for yourself soon, that this medical book doesn’t do this particular diagram justice.
- Goitre in Switzerland
Goitre in Switzerland. — Dr. Coindet, a Geneva Switzerland, asserts that Goitre is speedily produced in persons who drink the hard pump water in the lower parts of that town, whilst in other parts of Switzerland the use of spring water has been followed by the development of augmentation of Goitre in a very few days. In India also it has been shown conclusively to prevail, to any marked extent, only where the magnesium limestone rocks underlie the soil; but whether it is the line and magnesium salts or whether, as has been suggested, it is the presence of sulfide of iron and the bedrock formation, which is the direct cause of the development of Goitre, has not yet been positively determined. It appears certain however, that Goitre is originated by some water and purity, and that this contamination is of an inorganic and not of an animal or vegetable nature.
So it would appear, that English not the only ones that were hung up on this magnesium and salt issue causing Goitre. They were frankly barking up the wrong tree, and here is yet another reference to an unknown Doctor. For my new and make it to the fitness section of this book, it’s not follow any of the prescriptions for fitness nor consider constructing any of the fitness equipment. They couldn’t even figure out table salt after all. Our poor ancestors…
- Dangers in Snow Water
- Powers of the Hand – Skill of the hand
Powers of the Hand. – and how very good and useful or its endowments! How wondrously adapted to the uses to which it is daily applied! It’s elegance of outline, delicacy of mold and beauty of color has ever made it the attractive study of the artist; whilst its elasticity, flexibility and strength, combined with its delicate and exquisite mobility, and perfect adaptation as an organ of pretension, have led many philosophers to attribute man’s high and graceful spear he worked he even more to the hand them to the mine. Glowing thoughts are penned up on the pages of history by means of the hand; it wheels the artist pencil and brush, and makes the bare canvas and attractive and valuable work of art; how it strikes the keyboard of the piano with so delicate a touch that low, sweet, plaintive strains of music are brought forth; now the force of the blow is much greater and firmer, and louder and louder and more thrilling musical strains.
Skill of the Hand. – the farmers toil, a housewife status, the dressmakers deafness, the mechanics skill, are all accomplished by the human hand. How constantly does the lives from an aids us in expressing our feelings. It is the orator’s chief aide and giving expression to his lofty strains of eloquence, or emphasizing his pathetic appeals.
At this point, for this session I am going to sign off. The platitudes have finally gotten to me but don’t fear. We’ll be back again and you can continue to read my droll commentary like subtitling on a bad Sundance Film Festival Marathon in Italian.
- The Thorax
The Thorax. — The thorax derives its name from the Greek word thoreo, and signifies “I leap,” because the heart leaps in it. It is covered on the front part by large muscles; the pectoralis major, or large muscle of the breast, is observed on the left side of the chest, Wilson on the right it is removed and exposes the pectoralis minor, or small muscle of the breast. The dovetailed muscle observed on each side is the Seratus Magnus, and is employed in expanding and contracting the chest in the act of breathing. The muscles of the chest walls, in a deep inspiration, exert a force equal to lifting a weight of 750 pounds.
I do not know Greek but I found it interesting to learn that little bit of Greek above about the thorax. It’s a very descriptive word actually and I suspect if I understand it correctly preferring to the movement of the Adam’s apple? I would use the word Adam’s apple is a form of layman term, and I’m somewhat surprised that they didn’t use a layman term in their description as the audience for this book is supposed to be house wives and mothers.
- Mineral Springs
Mineral Springs. — mineral springs, notwithstanding they are much used for drinking, are properly medicinal agents. They comprise all those waters which contain sufficient quantities of dissolved matters, such for example, as iron or sulfur, as to produce thereby a positive effect upon the systems of persons for taking of them. The mineral springs of this country are frequently valuable remedial agents and some chronic diseases.
In this section they do kind of tell you something about the category and that this type of water has minerals or other matter that is dissolved in the water. It doesn’t happen to mention how those minerals may have a come to be there, such as those that are mingled with water by the Earth itself as opposed to water that is polluted by a person. In some regards I believe the author has at this point, deemed the actual term of mineral springs, to be a term that would be widely recognized by people and the author thereby hopes that the categorization of this type of water will take place in the readers mind such that the author or editor does not actually have to spell out why something is in a category at all. It’s a little backwards but almost like a person might expect that a living creature wearing baby clothes should be a baby as opposed to a dog dressed up in baby clothes. The assumption is that the object associated with something that is commonly known should lead the reader to accept categorization automatically. Again this is not terribly scientific and creates the imperative for an assumption, which might lead us to assume, that the author has not learned the lesson of making an ass out of you and me.
Dangers in Snow Water. — snow water, pure and fresh as it seems may be very dangerous to health and consequence of organic impurities contained in it.
- Powers of the Hand – Skill of the hand