The Hand; Its Mechanism and Wonderful Endowments.
Engraving of The Hand. – to tell one that this exquisite colored engraving represents a human hand seems almost like questioning his sanity. Yet such as; but how few there are who can give an intelligent account of the hand, describe its beautiful arrangements and complex mechanism, we’re told it’s wonderful endowments. Smaller compass, compact and structure, yet so skillfully arranged or its blood vessels and nerves, that they form a complete network over its surface so minute are they in their distribution that the point of the finest needle cannot penetrate any part of the hand without piercing quite a number of them. The hand is the great organ of touch and pretension in the instrument which distinguishes man in the large class of mammals, since he is the only animal which possesses to perfect and complete hands.
I just don't think I have ever heard the human hand referred to before in health, science, anatomy or biology as a mechanism, like its a toilet or tankless water heaters or some elaborate dog feeding gizmo that you'd find in a mad scientists home in a bad Michael J Fox movie.
OK, so it wasn't that bad!
Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:
- The Contaminated Ice Pond
The Contaminated Ice Pond. — both the house in which the ice was stored in the water from the melted ice gave off a decidedly disagreeable or even offensive odor. Finally, a visited upon from which the ice and then gathered disclose the fact that much of the water and it was dark colored, file and highly contaminated with filthy marsh mud and decomposing sawdust. Chemical analysis showed that both it and the suspected eyes contain a large excess of organic and volatile impurities, including four one hundredths of a grain per gallon of albuminoid ammonia.
- NATURAL POSITION OF CHILD AT TIME OF BIRTH
This beautiful and effective plate shows the natural position of the child at the time of birth. It is technically called the presentment of the fœtus for birth. Of the presentment’s there are many varieties, whose study is most interesting to the obstetrician. Some of them give rise to very difficult and dangerous delivery. When the presentment is natural, as in the figure, the comfort of the mother is increased and the doctor’s anxiety is modulated.
First off, the plate that this section refers to is located in our section on chart 2. Here is the specific picture in question.
Second,that lasthave sense that talks about the anxiety of the doctor, I think that could be misconstrued a couple different ways. It could appear that the author is more worried about the doctor than the mother. That was my initial interpretation.
It could also be, that the author was trying to tell the reader, that it’s okay to be anxious or you should be anxious if the fetus is not in the ideal position at childbirth.This could be some sort of hidden warning.It could also be something to tell doctors to relax if things are lined up correctly.
At this time, most babies were delivered at home.If a doctor was present, that was actually something.There really wasn’t a great deal that they could do though if things went seriously wrong.
In our modern era we are so used to having medical professionals on hand to cover every little thing from corrective eye surgery to a nose job and we don’t think about these things. Furthermore, medical services of the specialized nature are becoming close in common. If I need to find a charlotte cosmetic dentist to fix my smile, I can drive 20 miles down the road and find one.
Back then, you are doing good field drive a buggy 20 miles down the road to find a general practice doctor.
- The Crab Lice
The Crab Lice.—These are a smaller type of the former species, as head or body lice. They are nearly as wide as long. They have strong legs spread out on the sides of the body, which makes them appear like crabs. They are of whitish color, slightly shaded on the shoulders and legs with a red tinge. Crab lice are found upon the hairy regions of the body other than the scalp. The spread of these pests can be checked by washing all toilet seats with scalding water, and boiling towels and linen from suspected persons. Laundries should be especially careful as to the thorough boiling and disinfection of all clothing, as the eggs of these parasites can be conveyed in bed-clothing, towels, etc.
TREATMENT.–Shave the hair in the region of the itching and wash twice a day with a lotion made of
Tincture of Larkspur…………1/2 ounce
Commercial Ether ……….. 8 ounces
WARNING This treatment recommendation is over 100 years old. We do not recommend it nor know how effective or safe it might be. If you are cleaning clothing or Delsey luggage or something, use at your own risk, but if you try this stuff on your self, we think you are probably crazy.