Ye who have hearts to feel for human woe, think, if you can, what were my feelings, as I stood beside that bed, witnessing such misery and hearing such language—well knowing, that I could do nothing for her relief, nor say anything to influence others to give her what she so much needed; and what, if she had done wrong in taking so long—who will dare to say, that it was right to withhold it from her, in that fearful emergency! But it was withheld—and in a few days she died!
Would that I could present the picture of this woman’s sufferings, to all those invalids in our land, who are beginning to tamper with this deadly drug, which at last “biteth like a serpent and stingeth like an adder!” Methinks they would hasten to deliver themselves, as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler.
THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS.
THERE is no part of the human system which has such a controlling influence over the whole body, as respects health or disease, as the digestive organs. Any derangement in these, especially the stomach, calls up a sympathy of action from the whole animal economy. Nearly all the morbid actions found in the general system, are produced from causes, first operative on the stomach.
Hence, keeping the digestive system in a healthy state, secures, as a general rule, a healthy action in every other part of the physical organization. Therefore, to know something of the anatomy and physiology of the digestive organs, together with the laws of digestion, seems indespensable for every individual who would know how to take care of his health. By the term “digestive organs,” is intended the mouth, stomach, liver, and bowels, including the whole length of this canal is a lining membrane, called the mucous membrane, which continues from the lips to the opposite extremity; this membrane is filled through its whole extent with minute blood vessels, and in some parts, abundantly supplied with fine filaments of nerves. This membrane has important functions to perform in the process of digestion; it is a membrane of much delicacy of structure. Its healthy action is easily deranged, and when impaired in one part, becomes, by sympathy, deranged in every part.
THE MOUTH.
The mouth, with its teeth and glands, commences the digestive process; the teeth are to masticate the food; the salivary glands give important aid to digestion. There are three pairs of glands, which pour the fluid they secrete, into the mouth; this fluid is called saliva; the efforts of chewing food excites these glands, and promotes the secretion of saliva, which is essential to the healthy digestive process.