Familiar lessons on physiology and phrenology : for children and youth in two volumes

Preface

It) PARENTS AND 1EACHERS:

Children are generally ignorant of the simplest laws which relate to their bodies, and to the functions of their minds. They are sent to school it is true, but are seldom instructed in these things there ; and it is too often the case that they grow to maturity with habits which undermine their health, and bring them to an early grave; which might have been avoided if they had received proper instruction in early life.

That it is important for children “ to know themselves,” mentally and physically, is self-evident to every reflecting mind, and this being admitted, the most direct means should be used to accomplish this object. A correct knowledge of the laws and principles of Physiology and Phrenology is undoubtedly the most effectual medium through which this light can be obtained, and should, therefore, be extensively diffused and disseminated.

The design of these two volumes, is, to present these subjects in a clear and familiar manner, to explain their general laws, to illustrate them by cuts and familiar examples, such as occur in every-day life, to impress the truths inculcated on the conscience, so that children may not only feel their importance, and that it is their duty to obey the laws of their being, but that they may also feel that they have responsibilities, from which they cannot free themselves. I have affixed questions to each page for a two-fold purpose, namely, to enable teachers and parents to ascertain how far and how much the principles have been understood by them, and also to impress these principles deeply on their minds.

As the truths of Phrenology and Physiology are fully establisned in other works, I have drawn my inferences and conclusions from premises which I have not deemed it necessary to prove. I have written in a colloquial style, and have studied simplicity; yet I think that in addressing children we should not always adhere strictly to this ; for while they learn and repeat, when very young, long and unmeaning expressions, it is time to speak to them of words which convey instruction as well as sound.

vi

PREFACE,

A child can comprehend that the petals of a flower are its leaves, and that the cuticle is the outer membrane of the first skin.

The opinion that a knowledge of the mind, its laws and functions, should, and must of necessity, be confined to the Stoic, the Philosopher, and the Sage, has prevailed too long in society. The mind of man is but a development of the elements of his nature, and these elements can be understood by children.

Said a reverend gentlemen when speaking of little children, — “ Here is the replenishing of the world, here is a new wave of existence. From these little children will be selected our future rulers and judges of the next half century.” Another talented and eloquent writer also said — “ What a magazine of energies is a little child. How many journeys across continents, if need be, on errands of mercy, may be snugly packed away in those little feet. From between that little right thumb and finger, what volumes may yet flow out — poetry, history, philosophy, ethics, etc. !”

Parents and teachers, the minds of children are placed in your hands to mould and direct ! They have, as all must allow, natural tendencies of mind, natural propensities, natural predispositions ; yet they are not “fated” to act only as these dictate ; but they can be so trained, cultivated, or restrained, that their influence is often greatly modified or entirely counterbalanced. Will you train them for usefulness and happiness ; or will you suffer the tares of ignorance and vice to grow and expand in their little minds, till they eventually root out all the good ? It is for you to say. The responsibility rests on you. Do not, therefore, for the love you bear your little ones — “ those links between angels and men” — neglect your duty to them.

That these volumes may serve, in some degree, as a pilot to enable children to avoid the shoals and quicksands cf life, is the sincere wish of their friend,

L F. F.

Chapter I. Digestion

PAGE

What Physiology explains. — Curiosity of children. — Conversation of Charles and David. — What children do at the table. — Food ground by teeth. — Three passages in the mouth. — The stomach. — Situation of the stomach. — Chyme. — Chyle. — The passage of the chyle and the old blood. — Office of the blood. — How the broken bone is united. — How nature operates. — William’s stomach. — Five important lessons to be remembered. — How the stomach should be treated.

— The stomach of different animals. — “ Chewing the cud.” — The camel enabled to travel in the deserts. — Why we should follow these rules. - - 11 — 27

Chapter II. Bones

Bones of the mastodon. — Human skeleton. — Vertebral and Invertebral animals. — Human scull. — Why teeth ache. — First and second set. — Human teeth. — Four divisions of animals. — Teeth and disposition of the mink. — Teeth of different animals. — Fangs of the serpent.

— The spine and its vertebrae. — Joints : their advantage. — Ribs and breast-bone. — Compressing the ribs. — What we can do with our hands. — The feet of the mole, camel. — Feet of the lion. — Whale. — Web-footed birds. — Shell of the lobster. — Shell of insects, fishes, crocodiles. — Shell of the tortoise. — Muscles : their nature and use. — Muscles of the hand. — Natural bracelet. — Muscles obedient to the will. — Muscles of the tongue. — Trunk of the elephant. — Contraction and expansion ef the muscles. — Action of the muscles. — Erection of the obelisk at Rome. — Fat. — Sickness produces emaciation. — Bat and bear. - - 28 — 56

Vlll

Chapter III. Skin

PAG*

Cuticle. — Its texture. — Becomes hard or soft. — Rete mucosum. — Vera cutis, or third layer. — Why scars are not removed — What produces paiu in cutting the bone. — Perspiration. — Bathe the whole body. — Cleanliness of the skin. — Hair: its color and strength. 57 — 62

Chapter IV. Heart And Lungs

Something necessary to receive the blood — Heart. — Divisions of the heart. — The lungs. — Respiration. — How the blood is purified.

— The blood prevented from rushing back to the heart. — The veins and arteries. — Palpitation of the heart. — Consumption. — Dr. Harvey.

— Proofs of circulation. ... 63 — 71

Chapter V. Secretion

What secretion means. — Organs of secretion. — Fat. — Synovia. — Marrow. — Sweat. — Follicles. — Glands. — How different secretions are produced. — Saliva. — Gastric juice : its properties. — Bile. — Pancreatic fluid. — Tears. — Heart more perfect than machinery. — Organized beings. — Youth. — Maturity. — Development and decay. — Why accidents are often fatal to the aged. - - - 72 — 83

Chapter VI. Instinct

Analogy between man and animals. — What is instinct. — Different kinds of instinct. — Anecdote of the wasp. — Instinct of the bee. — Spider. — Ant. — Snake. — Cat. — Dog. — Elephant — Beavers. — Monkeys.— Orang-outang 84 — 95

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

FAGK.

2. The Skeleton of the Mastodon, - - . - - - 28

3. The Human Skeleton, - - • - - 29

4. The Human Teeth, .-.-----34

5. The Teeth of the Mink, ------ 36

6. The Ribs and Breast bone, - - - - 40

7. The Muscular System, ------ 49

8. The Muscles of the^rm, - - - - 53

10. The Structure of a Gland, - ^4

PHYSIOLOGY FOR CHILDREN

Chapter I. Digestion

1. Children, I wish to converse with you for a little while, if you will be very attentive, and listen to me. You know what I mean, I suppose, by conversing ? lor you all talk and chatter from morning till night, frequently to the great trouble and annoyance of your friends and parents. Conversing is to talk.

2. Tou are the talkers then ; generally you do all the conversing ; but, at the present time, / wish to do most of the talking myself.

3. Did you ever hear, children, of Physiology and Phrenology ?

“No,” responded little Clara, “/never did.”

Clara, do you like to be sick? Do you like to have your head and body filled with pain, and to be obliged to lie on your bed all day long?

“ Oh, no,” she answered quickly.

4. Well, children, when I say I will tell you what Physiology is, I mean that I shall explain to you why it is that we are sometimes sick — why it is that we can walk. I shall tell you about the bones, the teeth, the skin ; what it is that makes our bodies increase in size ;

What is the subject of Chapter first ? 1. How do children frequently

annoy their parents? 2. Who generally does the chief of the talking? 3. Is it pleasant to be sick * 4. What do we learn by means of Physiology I

PHYSIOLOGY FOR CHI1 DREW.

besides many other interesting things that you will be very glad to know.

5. When you purchase a toy, you are very anxious to know why it will make a noise by turning a crank, or why the little china dog will bark, or the wooden milkmaid churn. You are sometimes so inquisitive about these things, that you often pull very handsome toys to pieces to see what it is that seems to give them life and motion.

0. I am always pleased to see your desire to obtain knowledge ; but children frequently ask a great many questions about things improper for them to know. I wish you to ask as many questions as you now do; but I wish you to think more about your bodies — why it is that we eat every day, and why it is that we grow ; why it is that when we cut our fingers they get wTell again, as we say ; or, in other words, that Physiology is the study of the living animal. A knowledge of these things will make you both happier and better children, and men, and women. Shall I tell you about them ?

7. The sparkling of Clara’s bright eyes showed that she was filled with anxiety to know.

•* Tell us, do tell us,” responded these little ones , “ we will all be very silent, and try to understand what you say.”

8. Well, rejoined I, one day I overheard two little boys, Charles and David, talking together. Charles said to David, “ Is it not very strange that I am a larger boy than I was last year ? Mother told me that if 1 were a good boy, and went to bed when she wished me

5. Why do children frequently destroy their toys ? 6. What kind of

curiosity should be encouraged in children ? 7. Can anything be learned

by the expression of the eyes? 8. How did Charles account to David for his growing larger ?

DIGESTION.

to go rtithoui rying, that I should be a man if I lived long enough. So I have gone to bed ever since, and have tried to be good, that I might grow as large as my father.”

9. “ No,” said David, “ we grow if we do not cry when we have to take medicine; for old nurse told me ‘that I could never be a large man in the world’ if I cried and did not take the bitter stuff she had prepared for me. She said if I did cry, she would smooth down my face with a hot iron ; and I had half a mind to let her do it, to see if that would not make my face larger and longer. So in this way these two boys went on talking, and although they appeared very intelligent, and had attended school several years, they did not know the simple laws of their own bodies.

10. I wish all the children who hear my instructions to know that such things are foolish and untrue. I wish you to know that you have a heart, lungs, and stomach ; and also to know for what purpose they were given to you, and the service they are to you. I will imagine some of your thoughts and questions, and will try to interest and instruct you.

11. You all go to the table one, two, and three times every day, and what do you do when you are there ?

“Why I eat; yes, I eat just as hard and as fast as I can,” says William ; “and I carry something to school beside to eat if I can get it.”

12. William, what do you eat for 7

9. How did David account for his growing larger? Do children learn about their bodies by attending school? 10. Had Charles and David correct ideas about their growth ? What thing ought all children to understand ? 11. What do children do when at tho table? 12. Why do

children eat ?

DIGESTION.

“Why/’ said William, “because 1 am hungry, to be sure ; and I can scarcely wait to come to the table.”

That is right, William ; but what becomes of your bread, and butter, and cheese, and apples ?

William could not answer a word ; but Alfred instantly replied, “ My mother says, that what we eat makes us grow ; but how I cannot tell.”

IS. Here are William, and Alfred, and Sarah, and Jane, and a great many more children, who are eating, eating all they can get, and yet they do not even think whether it does them any good or not, or in what way it benefits them.

14. But, children, our food makes blood, and our blood increases our size. Now let us examine this curious subject for a few moments, and see how it is done. You have probably been at a mill where corn, wheat, and other grain, were ground into flour and meal. For this purpose, they have large stones, which, by turning round, cut the kernels of corn, and press them very fine. We have also something prepared to grind our food.

15. We have teeth, sharp and strong, with which to chew our food, and there are also in the mouth little vessels called glands, that contain a fluid like water, which is called saliva. This moistens the food, the same as a cracker becomes soft when put into water. Tliis saliva is called by boys and girls who do not know any better, spittle.

16. If this saliva did not exist, the mouth would soon

12. Could William tell what became of his food? What was Alfred’s reply? 13. Do children generally think why they eat? 14. Why do we eat ? How and where is grain ground ? 15. With what do we chew

our food? What do th^ glands in the mouth contain? How does the saliva act ? What is this saliva sometimes called ? 16. Is this saliva

of any use hi the mouth

STOMACH.

become very dry and parched. In the hack part of the mouth, there are three passages : one which leads into the nose or nostril ; one into the wind-pipe, through which we breathe ; and the third, which is called the gullet or 'oesophagus, goes down into the stomach. The latter is the one through which we wish the food to pass. But how do we know that it will take the right course? for if it should pass down either of the other ways, the person would not be able to breathe, and would soon become sick, and perhaps die.

17. Listen, and I will tell you how it is prevented from going wrong. There is a little piece of flesh at the root of the tongue which moves upward and downward, called a valve or trap-door, which shuts down over the wind-pipe when we swallow, just like the cover to a book or box, and fits so nicely that the food passes along down the throat, until it reaches the stomach.

18. The following cut represents the stomach, which is shaped like a bag, and usually contains about two or three pints in an adult or full-grown person. It is capable of being contracted or extended, as the case may require. The letter C is the tube through which the food passes, called the cardiac orifice. The letter P shows the outward passage, which is called the pylorus or “door-keeper,” as it prevents the food from passing out until it is properly digested, and also prevents it from returning after it has been sent out. I shall give you only a few hard names, and these I wish you to remember.

16. What passages are in the back part of the mouth ? Through which does the food pass ? What would be the consequence if it should take either of the other passages? 17. How is it prevented from taking a wrong course? 18 Describe the stomach. How much does it usually contain ?

i6

DIGESTION.

19. The stomach is situated on the left, side of the body, under the ribs, and has three coats or coverings. The stomach has also a fluid resembling that in the mouth, called the gastric juice, which mixes with the outside portion of the food, making it into a soft substance called chyme. All the water that we drink is

THE STOMACH taken up by the veins of the stomach, and is absorbed in about three minutes. It is for this reason, that, when a person has fasted, or has not taken food for some length of time, he derives nourishment quicker from drinking than from eating, because the water is soon sent all over his body. Many ignorant persons suppose that there is one passage to the stomach for all the water which we drink, and Another for all the food which we eat.

19. Where is the stomach situated ? What fluid does the stomach contain ? How is chyme made ? What becomes of the water which we drink ? Why does a person derive nourishment from water quicker than from food ? What idea do many persons have in reference to eat.ng and drinking ?

CHYME CHYLE.

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20. Dr. 'Wieting, an interesting lecturer on Physiology, tells an amusing story of an ignorant Irishman, vmo began to think about eating and drinking, but who, becoming puzzled, went to a physician, and asked him whether indeed there were two passages to the stomach, one for the solids and the other for liquids. The doctor replied that there was only one.

“Well,” said he, “I thought they must be wide awake down there to separate the puddin’ from the milk when I ate them.’'

21. If the nerves that lead from the stomach to the brain were cut off, the sensations of hunger and thirst which we all feel, would be destroyed. After the chyme has been formed, it passes out of the stomach through the pylorus into the duodenum, or second stomach, as it is sometimes called, which is the upper part of the intestines. As soon as one portion of the food is sent out of the stomach, another portion is formed into chyme, and so on, till all has been mixed with the gastric juice, which soon takes place, unless we have eaten too much food, or that of an improper kind.

22. The chyme which is prevented from returning to the stomach by a little valve in the pylorus, is now mixed with the bile that is secreted by the liver, which lies at the right side of the stomach, and a juice called the pancreatic, which comes from the pancreas, situated near the stomach. These two fluids convert it into a white fluid called chyle. It now travels along over the

20. Relate the anecdote of the Irishman. 21. What effect have the nerves on the stomach ? How is the whole of the food converted into chyme? What prevents the return of the chyme to the stomach ? Where are the liver and the pancreas situated ? How is chyle made ? Over what does the chyle pass ?

DIG ESTIC \.

whole internal surface of the intestines, which are six times the length of the body, but are folded in so com pact a manner that they occupy but a small space.

23. As the chyle is passing, that part of it which will make good blood, or is fit for the growth and nourishment of the body, is taken up by thousands of little tubes, called lacteals — because the lluid is white — also called capillary vessels — 'because the Latin word capilla means a hair — and these tubes are as small as a hair. It travels along through these tubes in the same manner that the particles of oil travel along through the little tubes in the wick of a lamp, till they unite in larger tubes.

24. These terminate in glands, from which larger tubes or pipes collect and carry the chyle from all parts into one common vessel, called the receptacle or thoracic duct, which holds about a table spoonful. From this bag a large pipe proceeds, which runs up the back part of the chest, and along till it reaches the neck at the top of the left shoulder.

25. It is now poured into a large vein called the subclavian vein, which carries the chyle, together with the old blood coming from the veins, situated all over the body, to the heart, the great fountain of life. The blood, now formed, runs along, being of a dark color, but which is not yet healthy, to the lungs. Here the air we inhale or breathe in, changes the dark color of the blood to red, as we see it when wTe prick our fingers.

26. Then it flow's back to the heart, and by a con-

23. What are the lacteals, and what is their office ? In what manner does the chyle pass through them ? 24. Explain the further passage of

the chyle. 25. How does the chyle and old blood finally reach the heart ? Where does this blood run, and what change takes place in it ?

OFFICE OF THE BLOOD traction of the muscles of the heart, it is thrown into tubes, called arteries, with sufficient force and rapidity to carry it to all parts of the body.

27. The blood contains the elements of all those substances which compose our body. It is the blood which makes our bones, our skin, our hair, and every limb ; and it is the blood which makes us grow. So yon see if we did not eat, we should not have any blood, and so of course we could not grow.

28. You may think it very strange that the red blood flowing like the water in a river, can make something as hard as a bone or flesh. But when you cut your finger, or break a bone, the reason why, after several days or weeks, it heals or becomes well, is, that the blood, in passing the place cut, leaves a little something there ; the next time it leaves again a little substance ; when, by and by, it becomes flesh and skin.

29. When a bone is broken, just the same process goes on, only the substance left is a little harder till a piece of bone is formed. Should you hurt your finger-nail so that it peeled off, you would find that gradually a new nail would grow, but if you should eat very sparingly for two or three months, you would not see this growth.

30. Different kinds of food make different quantities of chyle and different kinds of blood. Animal substances make more chyle than vegetable ; hence, if we lived altogether on meat and animal food, we should not require so much in quantity.

26. What is said of’ the blood after it flows back to the heart ? 27. What

does the blood contain ? 28. Explain in what manner the finger heals

when cut ? 20. Explain in what manner the bone unites when it ia

broken 1 30. On what does the quality of the blood depend I

DIGESTION.

31. Men, women, and children eat a great many kinds of food which are very injurious. Some people drink rum, wine, and other ardent spirits, although they are sensible that these only heat the body, do them great injury, and render them more stupid than the beasts who have no reason to guide them. They make no blood at all, but burn the stomach till it is all consumed. Tea and coffee make poor- blood ; so do all kinds of spices and rich gravies.

32. In the mill I spoke of, supposing those who had the care of it should throw in corn all day, without stopping to see whether the mill was full or not, do you not suppose they would soon get the mill out of order, so that they could not use it at all l But our stomachs are much more delicate, and more easily injured by our eating too fast, too much, and too often, than the mill.

33. When Nature does anything, she is governed by regular rules and fixed laws, and is systematic in all her arrangements. She does one thing at a time, and is only capable of doing a certain amount, and no more, without injuring some other part or function of the body.

34. Suppose I should listen to the talking of the stomach, what do you think it would tell me? I will imagine it to be William’s stomach. As soon as he awoke in the morning, and was dressed, he teased his mother for something to eat, for he was very hungry ; his mother, to get rid of his importunities, said, “Yes,” and gave him a large slice of bread and butter. By and by, in the course of a few moments, the stomach heard

31. What are some of the things that make poor blood? 32 How could a mill be injured ? How are our stomachs injured ? 33. What are

the operations of nature ? 34. Explain what the stomach of William

said ?

HOW THE STOMACH IS INJURED.

the bread and butter knocking foi entrance ; so she took it and says, “This will make some nice blood, only it would have been better for my little master if there had not been quite so much butter.”

35. So the stomach went on with her work to make it very fine, and get it ready to send to the heart ; but before it could quite send it all out, William’s mother had prepared his breakfast, and there was another tap at the door : “ Let me come in,” said some bread and butter ; “ and me too,” says some coffee ; “ and me also/ said a large piece of mince-pie ; all of which had been swallowed, half chewed, almost as quick as I can speak, or you can read or hear.

36. “ Well,” said the accommodating stomach, “I will do all I can for you ; but if you had waited an hour, or my master had ground you with his teeth, L could have done better ;” but she went to work pushing, and tugging, and throwing her sides together, to get the contents all digested, as it is called, or thoroughly dissolved by that gastric juice which I told you was in the stomach.

37. She almost gave up the undertaking, but she tried again, and finally succeeded in making the chyme. “ There,” said the stomach, “ go; but I am afraid my little master’s cheeks will not appear as rosy and bright ; for that mince-pie will steal away some of the color from the blood which goes to his cheeks ; I really hope that my poor sides will be able to take a little rest.

38. “ Little Willy will have to go to school, and will not be able to get any more food till noon.” If Mrs. Stomach could have looked into her master’s pockets,

35. What did she do with his bread and butter? 36. How did the stomach succeed with her task ? 37 How did the stomach console

herself?

DIGESTION.

she would have groaned most pitifully, and have had just cause for complaint ; for he did not wish to go to school that day, and his mother, to pacify him, and make him willing to go, gave him some candy, and some chestnuts, and that large red apple wdiich he had wished for a Jong time.

39. As soon as the little fellow had wiped away his tears, he started off to school. Recess came. He then put his hand into his pocket for his apple, which he nibbled, and nibbled, till it was all gone ; then came his candy, which he thought was very good. “ Ah !” sighed his stomach, “what shall I do ? I cannot possibly get rid of all this apple, and candy, and so I must let it remain here, till I take a nap to rest me but she could not sleep much, for the chestnuts came rattling down, one after another, and asked admittance.