Lecture on the Lungs

              [xx: LECTURE ON THE] LUNGS. � Rudiments of thought are [xx: I think] only obtained by studious attention to business. Thus the mind grows in the art of arranging the facts in such order that one truth after another falls in line until doubt gives place to knowledge. Then we are able to demonstrate that our conclusion is no longer debatable, [xx: Thus we reason to disperse][xx: but] and doubt and hope [xx: and?] give place to the newborn truth sought. The man who succeeds never follows any theory. His motto is, �demonstration or nothing�. If we do not know how or why the lungs act, we do know that when the lungs or heart fails man dies. The whole lung system, how it acts and what it does by its action has been one of the unsolved mysteries in the history of man. Man has never reasoned that a lung is a part of a machine, the heart another and it is equally so with all other organs and [xx: that] No atom in whole machine [xx: could] can be taken away and perfect functioning follow in life�s action. [xx: Thus] If we expect perfect functioning we must look for and keep all parts in condition to do the work they can do when in line. I am not writing to tell the reader what the lung is by quoting what great and scholarly authors have said on the lung and its diseases, because with all their recorded wisdom people die, and just as fast today as they have in all time past, but I will [xx: say just what] state my opinion [xx: is], not yours nor his. I want to feel the branding iron of reason, then I will know the truth by the depth of the burn. � [xx: Just here I will say that] The lung, to me, is a most important [xx: subject] organ. [xx: and to the reader I will say, that] I have cut loose for a time to ask all philosophers and [xx: to ask] Nature to unbosom a few of the secrets of the lung. We all know a great many elementary facts pertaining to the lungs, where they are situated, their size and form, that they draw air into them and that they push it out. At this point the needle of our compass trembles and centers on nothing. We know that in good health the lungs [xx: do] act in an undisturbed manner. Where this is the condition and the heart and other organs and parts of the body are undisturbed, we are bold to say that we [xx: do] enjoy and have good health. We know we can look upon the lung as one of the organs, beings or personalities of life. We know [xx: that by] that immediately following a wound from a bullet, knife or any other force that would produce a surgical injury, [xx: such an injury] health suffers in proportion to the extent of the injury. Other injuries are just as dangerous as the surgical, such as inhaling deadly gases or being filled by water, blood or any other substance. The result is death, instantaneous or progressive. Then comes in the natural processes such as [xx: when the arterial supply being] a strong and normal arterial supply [xx: and the] with a venous return [xx: failing] which fails to carry away substances that should be passed off [xx: , if detained] [xx: which] We know the result [xx: would be] is to accumulate [xx: , and all accumulated] bodies which require space [xx: much or little] in proportion to the substances obstructed and retained. Then atmospheric changes, eruptive fevers and many other causes produce retention, stagnation, inflammation, fermentation and a deposit of such substances as are left at the end of fermentation. [xx: Right here the doctor comes to an unqualified cough. He sees the effect and proceeds to combat this effect with any or all of his specifics, but at the end of the combat death notifies him that he has lost his]