A Practical Physiology

A Practical Physiology

The Project Gutenberg EBook of A Practical Physiology, by Albert F.
Blaisdell This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and
with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away
or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net
Title: A Practical Physiology
Author: Albert F. Blaisdell
Release Date: December 14, 2003 [EBook #10453]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A
PRACTICAL PHYSIOLOGY ***

Produced by Distributed Proofreaders

[Transcriber's Note: Figures 162-167 have been renumbered. In the
original, Figure 162 was labeled as 161; 163 as 162; etc.]

A Practical Physiology
A Text-Book for Higher Schools
By
Albert F. Blaisdell, M.D.
Author of "Child's Book of Health," "How to Keep Well," "Our Bodies
and How We Live," Etc., Etc.

Preface.

The author has aimed to prepare a text-book on human physiology for
use in higher schools. The design of the book is to furnish a practical
manual of the more important facts and principles of physiology and
hygiene, which will be adapted to the needs of students in high schools,
normal schools, and academies.
Teachers know, and students soon learn to recognize the fact, that it is
impossible to obtain a clear understanding of the functions of the
various parts of the body without first mastering a few elementary facts
about their structure. The course adopted, therefore, in this book, is to
devote a certain amount of space to the anatomy of the several organs
before describing their functions.
A mere knowledge of the facts which can be gained in secondary
schools, concerning the anatomy and physiology of the human body, is
of little real value or interest in itself. Such facts are important and of
practical worth to young students only so far as to enable them to
understand the relation of these facts to the great laws of health and to
apply them to daily living. Hence, it has been the earnest effort of the
author in this book, as in his other physiologies for schools, to lay
special emphasis upon such points as bear upon personal health.
Physiology cannot be learned as it should be by mere book study. The
result will be meagre in comparison with the capabilities of the subject.
The study of the text should always be supplemented by a series of
practical experiments. Actual observations and actual experiments are
as necessary to illuminate the text and to illustrate important principles
in physiology as they are in botany, chemistry, or physics. Hence, as
supplementary to the text proper, and throughout the several chapters, a
series of carefully arranged and practical experiments has been added.
For the most part, they are simple and can be performed with
inexpensive and easily obtained apparatus. They are so arranged that
some may be omitted and others added as circumstances may allow.
If it becomes necessary to shorten the course in physiology, the various
sections printed in smaller type may be omitted or used for home study.
The laws of most of the states now require in our public schools the
study of the effects of alcoholic drinks, tobacco, and other narcotics

upon the bodily life. This book will be found to comply fully with all
such laws.
The author has aimed to embody in simple and concise language the
latest and most trustworthy information which can be obtained from the
standard authorities on modern physiology, in regard to the several
topics.
In the preparation of this text-book the author has had the editorial help
of his esteemed friend, Dr. J. E. Sanborn, of Melrose, Mass., and is also
indebted to the courtesy of Thomas E. Major, of Boston, for assistance
in revising the proofs.
Albert F. Blaisdell.
Boston, August, 1897.

Contents.


Chapter I.
Introduction

Chapter II.
The Bones

Chapter III.
The Muscles

Chapter IV.
Physical Exercise

Chapter V.
Food and Drink

Chapter VI.
Digestion

Chapter VII.
The Blood and Its Circulation

Chapter VIII.
Respiration

Chapter IX.
The Skin and the Kidneys

Chapter X.
The Nervous System

Chapter XI.
The Special Sense

Chapter XII.
The Throat and the Voice

Chapter XIII.
Accidents and Emergencies

Chapter XIV.
In Sickness and in Health Care of the Sick-Room; Poisons and their

Antidotes; Bacteria; Disinfectants; Management of Contagious
Diseases.

Chapter XV.
Experimental Work in Physiology Practical Experiments; Use of the
Microscope; Additional Experiments; Surface Anatomy and
Landmarks.
Glossary
Index


Chapter I.
Introduction.

1. The Study of Physiology. We are now to take up a new study, and in
a field quite different from any we have thus far entered. Of all our
other studies,--mathematics, physics, history,