A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene Part 1

A Treatise on Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene (Revised Edition).

by Calvin Cutter.

PREFACE.

Agesilaus, king of Sparta, when asked what things boys should learn, replied, "Those which they will _practise_ when they become men." As health requires the observance of the laws inherent to the different organs of the human system, so not only boys, but girls, should acquire a knowledge of the laws of their organization. If sound morality depends upon the inculcation of correct principles in youth, equally so does a sound physical system depend on a correct physical education during the same period of life. If the teacher and parents who are deficient in moral feelings and sentiments, are unfit to communicate to children and youth those high moral principles demanded by the nature of man, so are they equally incompetent directors of the physical training of the youthful system, if ignorant of the organic laws and the physiological conditions upon which health and disease depend.

For these reasons, the study of the structure of the human system, and the laws of the different organs, are subjects of interest to all,--the young and the old, the learned and the unlearned, the rich and the poor. Every scholar, and particularly every young miss, after acquiring a knowledge of the primary branches,--as spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic,--should learn the structure of the human system, and the conditions upon which health and disease depend, as this knowledge will be required in _practice_ in after life.

"It is somewhat unaccountable," says Dr. d.i.c.k, "and not a little inconsistent, that while we direct the young to look abroad over the surface of the earth, and survey its mountains, rivers, seas, and continents, and guide their views to the regions of the firmament, where they may contemplate the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, and thousands of luminaries placed at immeasurable distances, ... that we should never teach them _to look into themselves_; to consider their own corporeal structures, the numerous parts of which they are composed, the admirable functions they perform, the wisdom and goodness displayed in their mechanism, and the lessons of practical instruction which may be derived from such contemplations."

Again he says, "One great practical end which should always be kept in view in the study of physiology, is the invigoration and improvement of the corporeal powers and functions, the preservation of health, and the prevention of disease."

The design of the following pages is, to diffuse in the community, especially among the youth, a knowledge of Human Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene. To make the work clear and practical, the following method has been adopted:--

1st. The structure of the different organs of the system has been described in a clear and concise manner. To render this description more intelligible, one hundred and fifty engravings have been introduced, to show the situation of the various organs. Hence the work may be regarded as an elementary treatise on anatomy.

2d. The functions, or uses of the several parts have been briefly and plainly detailed; making a primary treatise on human physiology.

3d. To make a knowledge of the structure and functions of the different organs _practical_, the laws of the several parts, and the conditions on which health depends, have been clearly and succinctly explained. Hence it may be called a treatise on the principles of hygiene, or health.

To render this department more complete, there has been added the appropriate treatment for burns, wounds, hemorrhage from divided arteries, the management of persons asphyxiated from drowning, carbonic acid, or strangling, directions for nurses, watchers, and the removal of disease, together with an Appendix, containing antidotes for poisons, so that persons may know what _should be done_, and what _should not be done_, until a surgeon or physician can be called.

In attempting to effect this in a brief elementary treatise designed for schools and families, it has not been deemed necessary to use vulgar phrases for the purpose of being understood. The appropriate scientific term should be applied to each organ. No more effort is required to learn the meaning of a _proper_, than an improper term.

For example: a child will p.r.o.nounce the word as readily, and obtain as correct an idea, if you say _lungs_, as if you used the word _lights_.

A little effort on the part of teachers and parents, would diminish the number of vulgar terms and phrases, and, consequently, improve the language of our country. To obviate all objections to the use of proper scientific terms, a Glossary has been appended to the work.

The author makes no pretensions to new discoveries in physiological science. In preparing the anatomical department, the able treatises of Wilson, Cruveilhier, and others have been freely consulted. In the physiological part, the splendid works of Carpenter, Dunglison, Liebig, and others have been perused. In the department of hygiene many valuable hints have been obtained from the meritorious works of Combe, Rivers, and others.

We are under obligations to R. D. Mussey, M. D., formerly Professor of Anatomy and Surgery, Dartmouth College, N. H., now Professor of Surgery in the Ohio Medical College; to J. E. M'Girr, A. M., M. D., Professor of Anatomy, Physiology, and Chemistry, St. Mary's University, Ill.; to E. Hitchc.o.c.k, Jr., A. M., M. D., Teacher of Chemistry and Natural History, Williston Seminary, Ma.s.s.; to Rev. E.

Hitchc.o.c.k, D. D., President of Amherst College, Ma.s.s., who examined the revised edition of this work, and whose valuable suggestions rendered important aid in preparing the ma.n.u.script for the present stereotype edition.

We return our acknowledgments for the aid afforded by the Princ.i.p.als of the several Academies and Normal Schools who formed cla.s.ses in their inst.i.tutions, and examined the revised edition as their pupils progressed, thus giving the work the best possible test trial, namely, the recitation-room.

To the examination of an intelligent public, the work is respectfully submitted by

CALVIN CUTTER.

WARREN, Ma.s.s., _Sept. 1, 1852_.

TO TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

As the work is divided into chapters, the subjects of which are complete in themselves, the pupil may commence the study of the structure, use, and laws of the several parts of which the human system is composed, by selecting such chapters as fancy or utility may dictate, without reference to their present arrangement,--as well commence with the chapter on the digestive organs as on the bones.

The acquisition of a correct p.r.o.nunciation of the technical words is of great importance, both in recitation and in conversation. In this work, the technical words interspersed with the text, have been divided into syllables, and the accented syllables designated. An ample Glossary of technical terms has also been appended to the work, to which reference should be made.

It is recommended that the subject be examined in the form of _topics_. The questions in _Italics_ are designed for this method of recitation. The teacher may call on a pupil of the cla.s.s to describe the anatomy of an organ from an anatomical outline plate; afterwards call upon another to give the physiology of the part, while a third may state the hygiene, after which, the questions at the bottom of the page may be asked promiscuously, and thus the detailed knowledge of the subject possessed by the pupils will be tested.

At the close of the chapters upon the Hygiene of the several portions of the system, it is advised that the instructor give a lecture reviewing the anatomy, physiology, and hygiene, of the topic last considered. This may be followed by a general examination of the cla.s.s upon the same subject. By this course a clear and definite knowledge of the mutual relation of the Anatomy, Physiology, and Hygiene, of different parts of the human body, will be presented.

We also suggest the utility of the pupils' giving a.n.a.logous ill.u.s.trations, examples, and observations, where these are interspersed in the different chapters, not only to induce inventive thought, but to discipline the mind.

To parents and others we beg leave to say, that about two thirds of the present work is devoted to a concise and practical description of the uses of the important organs of the human body, and to show how such information may be usefully applied, both in the preservation of health, and the improvement of physical education. To this have been added directions for the treatment of those accidents which are daily occurring in the community, making it a treatise proper and profitable for the FAMILY LIBRARY, as well as the school-room.

ANATOMY, &c.

CHAPTER I.

GENERAL REMARKS.

1. ANATOMY is the science which treats of the structure and relations of the different parts of animals and plants.

2. It is divided into _Vegetable_ and _Animal_ anatomy. The latter of these divisions is subdivided into _Human_ anatomy, which considers, exclusively, human beings; and _Comparative_ anatomy, which treats of the mechanism of the lower orders of animals.

3. PHYSIOLOGY treats of the functions, or uses of the organs of animals and plants. Another definition is, "the science of life."

4. This is also divided into _Vegetable_ and _Animal_ physiology, as it treats of the vegetable or animal kingdom; and into _Human_ and _Comparative_ physiology, as it describes the vital functions of man or the inferior animals.

5. HYGIENE is the art or science of maintaining health, or a knowledge of those laws by which health may be preserved.

6. The kingdom of nature is divided into _organic_ and _inorganic_ bodies. Organic bodies possess organs, on whose action depend their growth and perfection. This division includes animals and plants.

Inorganic bodies are devoid of organs, or instruments of life. In this division are cla.s.sed the earths, metals, and other minerals.

1. What is anatomy? 2. How is it divided? How is the latter division subdivided? 3. What is physiology? Give another definition. 4. How is physiology divided? Give a subdivision. 5. What is hygiene? 6. Define organic bodies.

7. In general, organic matter differs so materially from inorganic, that the one can readily be distinguished from the other. In the organic world, every individual of necessity springs from some _parent, or immediate producing agent_; for while inorganic substances are formed by chemical laws alone, we see no case of an animal or plant coming into existence by accident or chance, or chemical operations.

8. Animals and plants _are supported by means of nourishment_, and die without it. They also increase in size _by the addition of new particles of matter to all parts of their substances_; while rocks and minerals grow only by additions to their surfaces.

9. "Organized bodies always present a combination of both solids and fluids;--of solids, differing in character and properties, arranged into organs, and these endowed with functional powers, and so a.s.sociated as to form of the whole a single system;--and of fluids, contained in these organs, and holding such relation to the solids that the existence, nature, and properties of both mutually and necessarily depend on each other."

10. Another characteristic is, that organic substances have a _certain order of parts_. For example, plants possess organs to gain nourishment from the soil and atmosphere, and the power to give strength and increase to all their parts. And animals need not only a digesting and circulating apparatus, but organs for breathing, a nervous system, &c.