The Shin Bone. -The Tibia or shinbone is also a very large, strong, triangular-shaped bone, enlarged at both ends; the lower end, however where it articulates and forms a hinge joint with the foot, is larger and more prominent than the upper end. And as if this bone was not sufficiently strong enough in itself to bear the weight of the body, our Creator, that boundless wisdom and forethought everywhere in the human frame you see revealed, strengthens the legs by an additional bone, which is seen running on the outer side of the shinbone, to which it is firmly found at both ends.

That is the Shin Bone and I must say that I will be happy when we get out of the glossary of body parts.  We are approaching diseases and their transmission next which should be a more interesting topic and less likely to make a person want to update cover letters from 10 years ago in their spare time.

Additional Articles from the Book of Medicine:

• Use of the Leg Muscles
  
  

  Use of the Leg Muscles. – Is and the muscles observed in this plate are the principal instruments for carrying out the behest of the will in the act of walking, running, leaping, climbing, and the graceful, gliding motions of the interesting and captivating waltz; and although we see a complicated piece of machinery, yet there is perfect order.  Harmony, promptitude and exactness prevail, not only in the skillful manner in which they are individually and collectively range, but in the action of the different muscles, each one of which performs its duty either independently of, or in connection with, its fellow lever, and that, too, without interfering in the slightest degree with the functions of the others.

  Later on in this book we will start to see some examples of muscle building exercise.  There was some strength equipment used back then that largely consisted of free weights and many of the exercises could still be employed today despite the fact that many of the exercises have been perfected for form.

• How Lead Poisons Water
  
  

  How Lead Poisons Water. — when pure water recently boiled is placed in, or run over, lead, no action takes place; but if the water, after being boiled, is exposed for a short time to the air, from which it absorbs oxygen and carbonic acid, and is then brought in contact with lead, we soon find a whitish film, which on chemical examination is found to be composed of a carbonate of lead, is formed upon the metallic surface. This whitish film, which easily separates from the lead on which it appears and becomes mechanically mixed with water, is very poisonous. Since as already mentioned, Rainwater contains usually some nitric acid, in addition to the oxygen and carbonic acid which it absorbs from the air, and this nitric acid combines with lead to form a very soluble in poisonous nitrate of lead, it is much more dangerous than even purer. Water, after standing for a short time in contact with a leaden surface. Rainwater intended for drinking or cooking purposes ought, therefore, never to be collected from lead or tin roofs, transmitted through lead pipes, nor under any circumstances stored in lead lined cisterns of any kind.

   

  Years back poisoning from lead was possible from industrial run off, from pain, and from many many sources.  Today, we have exposure to other chemicals but lead poisoning exposure has dropped somewhat as we use lead free gas, lead free paint and as we endeavor even to go fiber optic with HDMI cables and other silicon based conductors.

• Outbreak at Salford Jail
  
  

  Outbreak at Salford Jail.  — In the Salford, England, jail there was a sudden outbreak of diarrhea of a choleric type, which affected more than half of the prisoners; while of the officers and their families, who were distributed throughout the building, not one was attacked.  The food of the convicts was examined and found to be good; it was evident, also, that the air to not contain the cause of the disease, as both classes above mentioned were under the same conditions in that respect.  Suspicion was therefore directed to the drinking water.  It was then discovered that, though the water supply in all parts of the prison was derived from the same source, there was one sister for the use of the officers, and another’s covered cistern for furnishing to the prisoners their allowance, and that the un-trapped overflow pipe of the latter communicated with an open sewer.  On the day of the outbreak of diarrhea in the jail, the water from the cistern was observed to be colored and to taste unpleasantly.

  This is definitely an interesting historical footnote, even though it would appear that this case was likely at least 20-50 years old when the author covered it 100 years from the publication of this internet article.  Never the less, it is interesting to learn again how this case was tracked and gain some additional historical perspective.  It helps us to understand the actual situations that led to policy and change and codes in plumbing and more over the years and helps make the current code less distant as if its there for the simple practice of bureaucracy as if we were reading actuarial tables about term life insurance and not a medical guide that might have saved some people’s lives as they put this into practice.