STIMULATING TO THOUGHT.
“ Why does a man, when in difficulty or doubt, scratch his head ?” Evidently with the purpose of stimulating the brain within, but whether it has that effect is open to question. It is a common practice, especially amongst half civilised people, to rub the cuticle above the organ they wish to excite to action—the skin of the abdomen when a meal is expected, the skin of the chest when exhausted with running, and so on. and all men rub their eyes when they would see their best. It is not. easy to see how such rubbing can act as a stimulant, but there is no doubt that the deeper organs are affected by the overlying skin, for injury to the scalp will cause headache, and sometimes mental irritation and delirium, and a poultice or blister applied to the skin of the chest will relieve the pain of pleurisy within. The soratching or rubbing probably does not act directly, but indirectly, through the central nervous Bystem,
Permanent link to this item
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GBARG19010905.2.7
Bibliographic details
Golden Bay Argus, Volume VII, Issue 66, 5 September 1901, Page 2
Word Count
168STIMULATING TO THOUGHT. Golden Bay Argus, Volume VII, Issue 66, 5 September 1901, Page 2
Using This Item
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.
Log in