Our Tears.

Otago Witness, Issue 1918, 24 August 1888, Page 35

Our Tears.

Tears in redundance may strikingly express emotion, bftt that is a mental side,' which is but a small part of their function, as we shall see. The principal element in the composition of a tear is, as may be* readily supposed, water. The other, elements are ,salt, soda, phosphate of lime, phosphate of soda, and mucus, each jn small proportions. A dried' tear seen' through' a microscope of good average power presents' a peculiar appearance. The water, after evaporation, leaves behind it the saline ingredients which amalgamate and form themselves into lengthened cross lines and look like 'a number of minute fish bones. The tears are secreted in what ' are called the " lachrynal glands," situated over the eyeball and underneath the lid. The contents of these glands are carried along and under the inner surface of« the eyelids by means of six or seven very fine ! .channels, and are discharged a little above the cartilage supporting the lid. The discharge of tears from the lachrymal gland is not occasional and accidental, as is commonly supposed, but continuous. It goes on both day and night -though less abundant at jnight— through the " conduits," and spreads equally over the surface of the pupil, in virtue of the incessant movement of the lids. After serving its purpose the flow is carried away by two little drains situated in that corner of each eye nearest the nosY- into which they' run— and called the "lachrymal points." The .usefulness of this quiet flow of tears to iboth -men and beasts i§ manifest.' There is such an immense quantity of fine dust floating in the air and constantly getting in the eyes that, but for it, they would soon become choked. Very little is requisite to keep the ball free, and when some obnoxious substance — smoke, an insect, or the like, that effects the nerves — does make its way in, an increased flow is poured out to sweep it away.— Exchange. Diphtheria. — A pan of sliced raw' onions placed in aroom where thereis diphtheria will absorb the poison and prevent the disease from spreading. The onions should be buried every morning and fresh ones cut up. The Jambuh Seed.— Eugenia Jambolana is now recognised to have the property of arresting the transformation of starch into sugar, and hence its great value as a medicine. Specimens of this medicinal plant are now being cultivated in England. . Popit Living Not Economical.—Cabbage contains 73 parts of nutriment in each 1000, and turnips.,42, while potatoes contain 120, oats 14$, bean's 890, peas (dry) 930, and parsnips, squash, apples, and onions rank high as nutritious, easily digested, and wholesome, vegetables for the table. The truth is that cabbages and turnips are the most expensive articles of common vegetable food a poor man can put upon his table. Fob Spbains.— Take the strongest vinegar you can get; add all the salt it will dissolve. Heat and saturate flannel clothes, and apply to the hurt as hot as the patient can bear. Then envelope in dry flannel. Repeat the process every 10 or 15 minutes until the pain is relieved. As one of my finkles'is just recovering from a severe .^prain, I can testify with a dear conscience to the effioacy of this remedy. We have used it in pur family ever since I can remember. — D. j. 0., in Scientific Press. . How Men Die.— lf wo know all the methods of approach adopted by an enemy we are the better enabled to ward off the danger and postpone the moment when surrender becomes inevitable. In many in* stances the inherent strength of the body sufficies to enable it; to oppose the tendency toward death. Many, however, have lost these forces to such an extent that there is little or no help. In other cases a little aid to .-the weakened lungs will make all the difference between sudden death and many years of useful life.