PRIEST AND LAYMAN.

Through which, far off, the scaffold looks and smiles reign of the emperors Decius and Valerian, it was more
But not on me.
There comes a messenger.

140

on man.

Original.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

BY PROFESSOR MERRICK.

MAN.

Is my last article I did not quite finish my remarks The present will contain a brief description of the organs of sense. In man these are five; viz, those of touch, smelling, tasting, hearing, and seeing, each of which is furnished with appropriate nerves. Between these nerves no difference of substance can be distinguished, nor between them and other portions of the nervous system. Even the expanded part of the nerve, which is especially designed to receive the impression, exhibits no peculiarity except its minute division, and soft and uniform texture. Still each nerve is capable of communicating no other sensation than such as was designed to be produced by the organ to which it is appropriated. No other sensation, for example, than that of light can be communicated by the nerve belonging to the eye, and no other than that of sound by the one belonging to the ear; and some assert that no part of the nerve except that which is expanded upon the organ is capable of giving rise to sensation. Upon this last point, however, there is a difference of opinion. Roget says that "no nerve, but the optic nerve, and no part of that nerve, except the retina, [the expanded portion of the nerve,] is capable, however impressed, of giving rise to the sensation of light." Bell, however, says that "every impression on the nerve of the eye, or of the ear, or the nerve of smelling, or of tasting, excites only ideas of vision, of hearing, of smelling, or of tasting; not solely because the extremities of the nerves, individually, are suited to external impressions, but because the nerves are, through their whole course and wherever they are irritated, capable of exciting in the mind the idea to which they are appropriate, and no other." It is somewhat singular, that although these nerves cannot excite but one class of sensations when impressed, they can produce these even when acted upon by objects for which the organ was obviously not intended. If the retina of the eye be pricked with the point of a sharp needle, a brilliant spark of light will be perceived; if the ball be pressed, it will give rise to all the colors of the rainbow. blow, an impulse, quite unlike that for which the organs of the senses are provided, will excite them all in their several ways; the eyes will flash fire, while there is noise in the ears. An officer received a musket-ball which went through the bones of the face-in describing his sensations, he said that he felt as if there had been a flash of lightning, accompanied with a sound like the shutting of the door of St. Paul's." The senses being designed to take cognition of external objects, the organs are placed at the surface of the body.

THE ORGAN OF TOUCH.

"A

By the sense of touch we are made acquainted with a variety of qualities, as hardness, softness, roughness, smoothness, figure, &c. This knowledge is acquired

by sensations produced through impressions being made
upon the appropriate nerves by bodies capable of afford-
ing resistance. The hand is generally regarded as the
organ of this sense, though the skin, perhaps, might be
so with more propriety. It is true, that the hand is
generally employed in receiving impressions from resist-
ing bodies, but all parts of the surface of the body are
capable of being similarly affected, though in a less
degree. It will be recollected that the skin is composed
of three layers; the cuticle, mucous membrane, and
corium; and that the latter only is furnished with
nerves and blood vessels. These nerves, which are
divided to an extreme degree of minuteness, and appa-
rently spread over the entire surface of the corium,
give rise to the sensation of touch. If the external
surface of the corium be examined with a microscope,
there will be seen a great number of minute filaments
projecting from it into corresponding grooves in the
cuticle. In each of these filaments is bound up the
extremity of a nerve with an accompanying blood ves-
sel, and a small quantity of semi-fluid matter. They
are especially conspicuous at the ends of the fingers,
where the sense of touch is more delicate than in any
other part of the body. The cuticle serves as a protec-
Without this protection the contact
tion to the nerves.
of external and resisting bodies would produce excru-
ciating pain, and the nerves would soon become callous
and insensible. Of all the senses, touch is probably
the most important, and no one is susceptible of a higher
degree of cultivation. By the use of this alone the
blind are enabled to read with facility, and perform
most kinds of manual labor. In some cases they are
able even to distinguish colors; not indeed as colors,
the sensations being purely those of touch, Those
who have been conversant with any of this unfortunate
class of persons, must have been struck with the almost
constant use which they make of this sense, and the
readiness with which it enables them to recognize their
friends, articles of dress, and other objects with which
they are familiar.

THE ORGAN OF TASTE.

The sense of taste is employed in detecting certain qualities in substances when in a liquid state. These qualities are called supid. The surface of the tongue, which is the organ of this sense, is furnished with a great number of blood vessels and nerves. In the forepart of this organ the filaments, or papillæ, containing the extremities of the nerves, are not only numerous but very prominent, so much so as to be visible by the naked eye. It is said if these papillæ be touched with a fluid which has a strong taste, such as vinegar, applied by means of a camel-hair pencil, they will be seen to become elongated by the action of the stimulus; and it is supposed that this effect always accompanies the perception of taste. As this organ is adapted only to the action of liquids, solid substances which are not solvable in the saliva, or moisture of the mouth, are tasteless.

The primary use of this sense, says Roget, the organ of which is placed at the entrance of the alimentary

PHYSICAL SCIENCE.

canal, is evidently to guide animals in the choice of their food, and to warn them of the introduction of a noxious substance into the stomach. With respect to the human species, this use has been, in the present state of society, superseded by many acquired tastes, which have supplanted those originally given to us by nature; but in the inferior animals it still retains its primitive office, and is a sense of great importance to the safety and welfare of the individual, from its operation being coincident with those of natural instincts. If, as it is said, these instincts are still met with among men in a savage state, they are soon weakened or effaced by civilization.

THE ORGAN OF SMELLING.

141

nal portion of the ear, called the concha, is designed to collect these vibrations and give them an inward direction through the funnel-shaped canal, termed the meatus auditorius, so that they may strike forcibly upon the membrane of the tympanum, or ear-drum, which is stretched across the bottom of the meatus. Behind this membrane there is a hollow space called the cavity of the tympanum, which is always filled with air. From this cavity there is a small tube opening into the back of the nostrils, so that the air is not confined within the cavity, but has free communication with the air without. This contrivance is necessary in order that the pressure upon the ear-drum may be the same upon both sides. Without it this membrane would be forced inward or outward upon every change in the barometrical pressure of the atmosphere, which would seriously impair the perfection of the organ, and prevent a distinct perception of sound. In the mastoid process of the temporal bone, there are numerous cells that are also filled with air, which communicate with that in the cavity of the tympanum. On the side of the cavity opposite to the ear-drum is the promontory—a rounded eminence, which is connected with the membrane of the ear-drum by a chain of minute moveable bones. It is supposed that the office of these bones is to com

The sense of smelling is somewhat analogous to the one last noticed. It differs from it, however, among other things, in taking cognizance of the qualities of substances in the gaseous form, or in a state of minute division. Oderiferous effluvia, diffused through the atmosphere, when the latter is inhaled, are brought in contact with the membrane which lines the internal surface of the cavity of the nostrils. Upon this membrane, which is always kept moist for the purpose of retaining the small particles which fall upon it, are spread out the ultimate divisions of the nerves which municate the vibrations of the ear-drum to a membrane give rise to the sensations of smell. These nerves, called the olfactory nerves, are remarkable for their senwhich lines a cavity of the promontory. They are sibility, especially in some of the lower orders of ani- regularly articulated together, but differ very much in mals. Many of these will detect their appropriate food size and form. Still further back is the labyrinth-an at the distance of miles. It is well known that the organ of very singular construction, the mazes of which dog, by the aid of this sense alone, will follow the foot-I shall not here attempt to thread, as a description withsteps of other animals many hours, if not days, after out a diagram would be little else than words without they have passed over the ground; and that he will knowledge. Its use is not well understood; but that it distinguish the track of his master from that of thous- porforms some important function in the phenomena of ands of others, whether upon the smooth pavement, or hearing there can be no doubt, as there are appropriated in the yielding sand. The particles of matter which to it a large portion of the auditory nerves. affect this organ, in most cases, must be inconceivably small-hundreds of times smaller than the minutest

bodies which can be seen by the human eye, even when aided with the most powerful microscope. Musk, asafœtida, and many other substances, will emit a strong odor for years without losing any appreciable weight.

As this sense is employed in detecting vapors in the atmosphere which would be injurious to the system if breathed, and, in the lower order of animals, to a great extent in obtaining their food, as well, also, as in deter

THE ORGAN OF SEEING.

form the subject for an entire article, than a single parA description of the eye or ear might more properly agraph. I shall attempt here only a brief description of some of the most important parts of the eye. The portion of this organ projecting in front is called the cornea, from its supposed resemblance to horn. It is

highly transparent and very strong. It serves to concentrate the rays of light which fall upon it, and to protect the more delicate parts of the organ from external

mining what is appropriate to be taken into the stomach, injury. Immediately back of the cornea is the anterior or fit for nourishment, the organ is placed at the begin-chamber, which is filled with the aqueous humor—a ning of the passages of respiration, and adjacent to the mouth. It is a singular fact that if the organ of smelling be impaired, the sensations of taste become very indistinct. Even if the nostrils be closed, it is difficult to determine the peculiar taste of any substance taken

into the mouth.

transparent fluid much resembling water. The dark circular portion of the eye, seen in front, is the iris. It is this which determines the color of the eye. It lines the posterior surface of the chamber just noticed, and is composed of muscular fibers which have the power of contracting and expanding, so as to increase or diminish the opening at the center, called the pupil, acThis organ is exceedingly complicated, and some cording to the intensity of the light to which the eye is parts of it are but little known. It is acted upon by exposed. Behind the opening of the iris lies the crysvibrations of the atmosphere, or some other elastic me- taline lens. It is of the consistency of hard jelly, and dium. Bodies which agitate the air in such a way as perfectly transparent. The posterior chamber occupies to produce sound, are said to be sonorous. The exter-all the internal cavity of the eye which lies back of

THE ORGAN OF HEARING.

142

RELIGION FOR THE INSANE.

the crystaline lens, and is filled with the vitreous humor, a fluid which very nearly resembles, in its composition and properties, the aqueous humor. The inner surface of this chamber is lined with a fine white net-work, formed by the expansion of the optic nerve. This is called the retina, and is imbedded in the pigmentum nigrum, a black velvety substance, which absorbs the light after it has performed its office upon the retina. The whole apparatus is inclosed in a strong coat, or membrane, termed the sclerotica, which is seen in the white of the eye.

In the act of vision, the light which falls upon the eye is directed by the cornea, through the pupil, when it is refracted by the crystaline lens and thrown upon the retina, where an image of the external object is formed. Here the light acts in such a way upon the optic nerve as to produce the sensation of seeing. The following extracts, the first from Sir J. Herschel, and the other from Roget, will but express what all must have felt, who have carefully studied the structure of this wonderful instrument. "It is the boast of science to have been able to trace so far the refined contrivances of this most admirable organ; not its shame to find something still concealed from its scrutiny; for, however anatomists may differ on points of structure, or physiologists dispute on modes of action, there is that in what we do understand of the formation of the eye so similar, and yet so infinitely superior, to a product of human ingenuity—such thought, such care, such refinement, such advantage taken of the properties of natural agents used as mere instruments for accomplishing a given end, as force upon us a conviction of deliberate choice and premeditated design, more strongly, perhaps, than any single contrivance to be found, whether in art or nature, and render its study an object of the deepest interest." "Of all the animal structures, this is, perhaps, the one which most admits of being brought into close comparison with the works of human art; for the eye is, in truth, a refined optical instrument, the perfection of which can never be fully appreciated until we have instituted such a comparison; and the most profound scientific investigations of the anatomy and physiology of the eye, concur in showing that the whole of its structure is most accurately and skillfully adapted to the physical laws of light, and that all its parts are finished with that mathematical exactness which the precision of the effect requires, and which no human effort can ever hope to approach-far less to attain."

Original.

RELIGION FOR THE INSANE. ONE of the interesting features of that expansive and embracing Christian benevolence, with which this age is radiant, is the encircling care it has thrown around the once neglected and dreaded lunatic. It has reached him, even at the gloomy distance to which a self-excusing neglect and superstitious fear had driven him, and extended to him its warm sympathies, and relieved him by its enlightened, skillful care. One by one the barriers with which prejudice had shut him out from the attentions bestowed upon other unfortunates, have been broken down; and now he is made the recipient of all the tender mercies which pulsate the Christian heart. Among the last of these prejudices yielding to this happy influence, is the extension of religious privileges to the insane. Though as yet an experiment, sub judice, its friends have much to encourage them in the anticipation of happy results.

It is only from some knowledge of mental disease, and the success of moral means, in its relief, that we can properly appreciate this new addition to the long catalogue of appliances.

We often make a false estimate of the extent of insanity in the mind. By the sudden onset of some highly exciting cause, the intellect seems to be driven anchorless from its moorings, presenting a wild and turbulent storm of feeling, or an unruled chaos of illusions, yielding no obedience to the high attractions of reason; and yet not very far beneath this warring turmoil, there may be some calm current, undisturbed by the upper flow. The agitated surface may conceal from our view an unruffled quiet beneath. Such, we think, is often true with minds that present in their insanity nothing but the uncontrolled waywardness of passion, or the incoherency of unbalanced intellect. There is still some chord whose melody is unmarred, that, if skillfully struck, would give forth sweet sounds, which might diffuse a harmonizing influence over the discord. And often, very often, is this chord the religious sentiment in the human heart. The elements that constitute this sentiment, giving, as they do, to our nature its stamp of immortality, raising the heart, in its aspirations, to heaven and eternity, are deeply engraven on its tablet. When all the elements of mind, that link our nature to the scenes and excitements of earth, and enter the lists of its contests, and bear away the marks of its battles-have suffered their worst, there may still remain something with no earthly sympathy, unscathed by this contamination. Often the heart seems to freight some frail bark with all its hopes and joys, and send it out on the traitorous ocean of life; and when the hurricane mingles sea and sky, and darkness gathers around, and it sinks for ever from our view, we may suppose all is lost, while the voy

“As in agriculture, he that can produce the greatest crop is not the best farmer, but he that can effect it with the least expense; so in society, he is not the best member who can bring about the most good, but he that can accomplish it with the least admixture of con-ager may yet have "laid up a treasure in heaven," comitant ill. For let no man presume to think that he can devise any plan of extensive good, unalloyed and unadulterated with evil. This is the prerogative of the Godhead alone."

which "wind and tide” can never disturb. Thus disappointed and sickened with all earthly prospects, if in the darkness of this gloom, its hopes be turned where no cloud has yet intervened, the mind may be recalled

from its despondency, its aberration corrected, and its || new motive to subject itself to control-the anchorite healthful activity again restored. At this stage, relig-again seeks society, and the convalescent with a new ious exercises, combined with other means, act as a impulse progresses to complete restoration. center of gravity, sending out an unseen, harmonizing These exercises also dissipate the unpleasant sense influence, that by degrees pervades the eccentric move-of confinement, and assist to establish self-respect, the ments of mind, and wins them back to the order from great fulcrum of beneficial influence over the insane; which they had wandered. while in many minds they preserve one of the enjoyExperience confirms the propriety of their employ-ments of happier days, that may be associated with ment. The patient convalescing from insanity, feels dear and important remembrances. the necessity of something to fix the mind, as it recovMay not the Christian rejoice as he contemplates ers itself from the dizzy whirl in which it has been these triumphs of that spirit that breathed the message eddying with a fearful and lawless rapidity. To per- of love-"good will to men." The lunatic, in the mit it to go back to the contemplation of objects that dark night that has settled down on his mind, has been first drove it from its balance must be disastrous. The gladdened by light from the same fountain. Will not great design is to create an interest in new objects, and the Christian's heart pray prosperity to all the means to furnish new subjects of thought. Hence, the advan-used to alleviate his woes, and God's direction in their tage of a removal from friends and habitual associations, cutting off the mind from whatever might suggest a train of thought encouraging or establishing its illusions. The whole system of moral treatment must combine to the same end; and the introduction of religious exercises, as part of this system, has already given promise of its happy adaptation. To the heart that has sunk to deBROTHER HAMLINE,-I noticed in your "Gatherspondency from the blight of all earthly anticipations, ings of the West" an interesting article on female they present hopes that never disappoint-to many a vacant mind, they relieve the irksomeness of "an fort. One thought provoked another, until my mind influence, which suggested the caption-Female Efaching void;" and to others fill up the blank of an rested upon some facts in the history of a Christian

unoccupied memory, with recollections of the distant past that soothe and cheer.

But even those whose derangement is dependent on misguided religious feeling, and the extravagant delusions of fanaticism, are not exempt from the advantages to be derived from these exercises. In the quiet simplicity and unostentatious forms of family religion there is nothing to excite, nothing to kindle up the zeal of the fanatic, or cast a deeper shade over the gloom of the melancholic; but on the contrary there is much to call back the wayward wanderings of the former to the beautiful simplicity of truth, and by the touching story of redeeming love, to shed the light of hope and peace over the dark despondency of the latter. These happy effects, we think we have seen, as from day to day we have mingled with these children of woes untold, and gathered around the family altar with this companionship of strangers in all things save a community of misfortunes. O, how appropriate to "commit all our cares to Him that careth for us," and ask the light and direction of Him who first lit up the fire of intellect in the soul, to bless the humblest effort, to restore reason to its vacant throne, and calm the lawless storm of pas

application?

Ohio Lunatic Asylum, 1841.

Original.

FEMALE EFFORT.

S. M. S.

female, who was thirty years a member of the Church.
Some of these I present to your readers in the hope of
rousing to similar exertions pious ladies who know not
fort, may be accomplished.
(having never made a trial) how much, by female ef-

My friend (for thus I may truly call her) was religiously educated in a sister Church, and before leaving Virginia for the wilds of Kentucky united in communion with that Church. Through the instrumentality of Fletcher's Checks, and Rev. Mr. Harris of Fayette county, Ky., she became a member of the Methodist Church, and found the blessing of adoption. Like the woman of Samaria she resolved to tell her friends what a change had been wrought in her heart and in her joys. She proposed to visit Virginia, and make known what great things the Lord had done for her. Under the conviction that God would make it a blessing to her unconverted relatives, she traveled several hundred miles. Not long after her arrival she communicated to her sister, who was a member of another Church, the object of her visit. This produced some convert was too enthusiastic. How could she preach surprise, and suspicions were indulged that the western Jesus to her unconverted relatives, so as to awaken In this, all, in any measure capable of appreciating them, when Dr. S had been trying it for years in it, seem to unite as in a privilege to which each has a vain. The pious adventurer asked that her female relacommon inheritance. The homicide forgets the delu- tives might be invited to spend a day with her at her sion that had vailed the moral sense in a darkness pre- sister's house. This was agreed to-the invitations cluding the perception of right and wrong, and learns were sent-the parties came, and after some inquiries to shudder at its fatal results-the gloomy victim of about the west, &c., our friend modestly requested all despair is lured away from his own dark contempla- of them to listen to a portion of her history connected tions, and again consents to admit the light of hope in with her conversion to God. This was somewhat upon his existence-unregulated passion, receives a unexpected, but not unproductive of good; for who

sion.