DANGER POINTS IN BODY

Waipa Post, Volume 32, Issue 1787, 27 July 1926, Page 3

DANGER POINTS IN BODY

Some parts: of the body are more vulnerable than otheirs. This was early discovered by primitive man

and is symbolised in such legends as that of the heel of Achilles/ and the spot upon the body of Siegfried upon which a maple leaf fell, thus protecting "it from the baptism ,of dragon's blood which made the rest of his body immune from injury. Modern, science has made an intensive study of. the reasons why certain parts of the organism are more susceptible than others to serious injury ; The matter is treated in a late number of "Kosmos" (Stuttgart) by Dr W. Schweisheiner. After recapitulating the common knowledge regarding the vulnerability of the heart, the chief arteries, etc., he observes that the Oriental art of ju-jitsu is founded upon knowledge of the danger points of the body, and on a carefully worked-out system of .striking at these inoffensive and) protecting them in defence. He continues: "Most important of all among the sensitive spots of the body is the Adam's apple. Pressure with both thumbs at. this! point is almost insupportable, while a blow may so injure it as to cause lasting disturbance of the power of speech, as well as interference with the functions of breathing,and! swallowing, which may amount to torture. Very painful, too, is a pressure upon the small hollows below the 'ears and behind the upper jaw, since a pressure directly affects certain trunk nerves, while a blow with the edge of 'the hand above the temples or ears may cause concussion of the brain or even a fracture of the skull. Blows upon the nape of the neck or the point of the chin have been known to cause death by fracturing the upper vertebra of the neck. •The base of the nose and septum are likewise easily injured." The more vulnerable portions of the trunk including the vicinity of the kidneys, are next considered We read: "A firm pressure upon the upper thigh at the width of the hand above the knee, or upon the upper arm at a like distance above the elb;ow, will produce unbeatable pain due to' pressure of a nerve trunk against the bone, while a blow on the point of the elbow, or 'funny bone,' strikes the ulnar nerve which supplies a part of the forearm, thus causing pain and immediate helplessness. Pressure upon important nerve bran-, ches may also be exerted by grasping the outside-of the elbow with thefour fingers, at the same time pressing the hollow of the elboAy hard wltßi the thumb." Other areas especially susceptible to pain are the upper lip and the abdomen. f