20. Dr. Wieting, an interesting lecturer on Physiology, tells an amusing story of an ignorant Irishman, who 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?

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 fluid 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 we prick our fingers.

26. Then it flows 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.

19

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 you 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 fingernail 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? 29. Explain in what manner the bone unites when it is broken? 30. On what does the quality of the blood depend?

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 which he had wished for a long 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.

40. Soon school was done, and William ran home; but for some cause he did not feel as happy and comfortable as he did in the morning. He said it was because he had been compelled to go to school, and could not play at home

In a short time dinner came on to the table, and William of course took his seat by the side of his father.

41. He must eat because he generally does: so away goes a slice of beef, then some potato, and a great many other things, into his stomach; but she had not sent away all his apples and nuts-so she could not help grumbling and getting out of patience, and declared that she would not take anything else.

38. What would the stomach have seen could she have looked into Willy's pocket? 39. What did she do with his apples, etc.? 40. What were William's feelings, and to what did he attribute them? took place at the table?

41. What

IMPORTANT LESSONS.

23

42. This made William feel so uncomfortable that he could not hold his head up, but had to go and lie down on the bed. When his mother went to him he was so hot and feverish, that she sent for the doctor to come and see her poor boy, and said she was sorry that she urged him to go to school; for now he was sick. She did not once think that her sympathy should extend to his poor stomach, which she had assisted in so unmercifully stuffing, and which in return had caused her little William's sickness.

43. The doctor came, and at once told her what the matter was with the boy. He took pity on the stomach, and gave the boy some medicine, which caused him to throw up what was not needed, and what could not be properly digested; and said he must take only light nourishment for several days.

44. As I was talking thus, William, who sat by my side, blushed and seemed confused, as if he had done. something wrong. Said he, "How did you hear my stomach speak the other day? It is very wonderful; but I will not make it feel so bad again."

45. Children, you know that the stomach cannot talk or think, although it can feel; but this is what it would say a great many times if it could; and I merely supposed this circumstance, to teach you the following important lessons, which you must not forget:

1. That you must not eat in haste.

2. That you must chew your food fine.

3. That you must not eat after your regular meals.

42. To whom did Willy's mother's sympathy extend? 43. What was the doctor's prescription? 44. What effect did this story have on William? 45. Can the stomach talk? What can it do? What five important lessons should be remembered?