Part 24 (2/2)

368. _The clothing should be loosely worn._ Compression of any kind impedes the pa.s.sage of blood through the vessels of the compressed portion. Hence, no article of apparel should be worn so as to prevent a free flow of blood through every organ of the body.

369. The blood which pa.s.ses to and from the brain, flows through the vessels of the neck. If the dressing of this part of the body is close, the circulation will be impeded, and the functions of the brain will be impaired. This remark is particularly important to scholars, public speakers, and individuals predisposed to apoplexy, and other diseases of the brain.

370. As many of the large veins lie immediately beneath the skin, through which the blood is returned from the lower extremities, if the ligatures used to retain the hose, or any other article of apparel, in proper position, be tight and inelastic, the pa.s.sage of blood through these vessels will be obstructed, producing, by their distention, the varicose, or enlarged veins. Hence elastic bands should always be used for these purposes.

367-386. _Give the hygiene of the circulatory organs._ 367. What effect will be produced on the body if it is deprived of blood? If the blood is only lessened in quant.i.ty? 368. Why should the clothing be worn loose? 369. What is said of dressing the neck? To what persons is this remark applicable? 370. How are enlarged veins frequently produced?

371. _An equal temperature of all parts of the system promotes health._ A chill on one portion of the body diminishes the size of its circulating vessels, and the blood which should distend and stimulate the chilled part, will acc.u.mulate in other organs. The deficiency of blood in the chilled portion induces weakness, while the superabundance of sanguineous fluid may cause disease in another part of the system.

372. _The skin should be kept not only of an equal, but at its natural temperature._ If the skin is not kept warm by adequate clothing, so that chills shall not produce a contraction of the blood-vessels and a consequent paleness, the blood will recede from the surface of the body, and acc.u.mulate in the internal organs. Cleanliness of the skin is likewise necessary, for the reason, that this condition favors the free action of the cutaneous vessels.

_Observation._ When intending to ride in a cold day, wash the face, hands, and feet, in cold water, and rub them smartly with a coa.r.s.e towel. This is far better to keep the extremities warm, than to take spirits into the stomach.

373. _Exercise promotes the circulation of the blood._ As the action of the muscles is one of the important agents which propel the blood through the arteries and veins, daily and regular exercise of the muscular system is required to sustain a vigorous circulation in the extremities and skin, and also to maintain a healthy condition of the system. The best stimulants to improve the sluggish circulation of an indolent patient, whose skin is pale and whose extremities are cold, are the union of vigorous muscular exercise with agreeable mental action, and the systematic application to the skin of cold water, attended with friction.

371. Why should the temperature of the body be equal? 372. Why should the skin be kept at its natural, as well as at an equal temperature?

What practical observation when intending to ride in a cold day? 373.

Why does exercise promote health? What are good stimulants for sluggish circulation in the indolent?

_Ill.u.s.tration._ The coach-driver and teamster throw their arms around their bodies to warm them when cold. The muscles that are called into action in swinging the arms, force a greater quant.i.ty of blood into the chilled parts, and consequently, more heat is produced.

374. When a number of muscles are called into energetic action, a greater quant.i.ty of blood will be propelled to the lungs and heart in a given time, than when the muscles are in a state of comparative inaction. It is no uncommon occurrence, that before there is a proper expansion of the respiratory organs to correspond with the frequency and energy of the movements of the muscles, there is an acc.u.mulation of blood in the lungs, attended by a painful sensation of fulness and oppression in the chest, with violent and irregular action of the heart. This condition of the organs of the chest, called _congestion_, may be followed by cough, inflammation of the lungs, asthma, and a structural disease of the heart.

375. To avoid these sensations and results, when we feel necessitated to walk or run a considerable distance in a short time, commence the movements in a moderate manner increasing the speed as the respiratory movements become more frequent and their expansion more extensive, so that a sufficient amount of air may be received into the lungs to purify the increased quant.i.ty of blood forced into them. The same principles should be observed when commencing labor, and in driving horses and other animals.

_Observation._ When a large number of muscles are called into action after repose, as when we rise from a rec.u.mbent or sitting posture, the blood is impelled to the heart with a very strong impetus. If that organ should be diseased, it may arrive there in larger quant.i.ties than can be disposed of, and death may be the result. Hence the necessity of avoiding all sudden and violent movements, on the part of those who have either a functional or structural disease of the heart.

Mention the ill.u.s.tration. 374. What is the effect when a number of muscles are called into energetic action? What effect has this acc.u.mulation of blood in the lungs? 375. How can such disagreeable sensations be avoided? Mention a practical observation.

376. _The mind exercises no inconsiderable influence upon the circulatory organs._ When an individual is stimulated by hope, or excited by anger, the heart beats more forcibly, and the arteries act more energetically, than when a person is influenced by fear, despair, or sorrow. Consequently, the system is more fully nourished, and capable of greater exertion, when the former condition obtains, than when the latter exists.

377. _The quality and quant.i.ty of the blood modify the action of the heart and blood-vessels._ If this fluid is abundant and pure, the circulatory vessels act with more energy than when it is deficient in quant.i.ty or defective in quality.

_Ill.u.s.trations._ 1st. In an athletic man, whose heart beats forcibly, and whose pulse is strong, if a considerable quant.i.ty of blood is drawn from a vein, as in bleeding, the heart will beat feebly, and the pulse will become weak.

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