Identifier: healthybodytextb00stow (find matches)
Title: A healthy body. A textbook on anatomy, physiology, hygiene, alcohol, and narcotics. For use in intermediate grades in public and private schools
Year: 1889 (1880s)
Authors: Stowell, Charles H(enry) 1850- (from old catalog)
Subjects: Human physiology
Publisher: Chicago, J.C. Buckbee and company
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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Fig. 5. Human bone, showing two blood-vessels and a number ofbone-cells, magnified. nerves, and a frame-work of soft fibres. These are calledthe animal matter of bone. The Animal Matter. The animal matter can all be takenout of a bone by simply putting it into the fire. Theshape of the bone will not be changed, it will only becomelighter and whiter. After the animal matter has all beenburned out, the bone can easily be broken, and poundedinto a fine powder. On the other hand, if the boneswere composed of animal matter alone, we could bendthem into any shape without their breaking ; in fact,they would be of little use to us in this condition. 80 A HEALTHY BODY. The Mineral Matter. The hard part of bone is composedlargely of lime, which may be removed by soaking thebone in a weak acid for a few hours. The bone willretain its former shape; but it can be easily bent, andeven tied in a knot, as shown in the illustration. (Fig. 6.)
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Fig. 6. A bone tied in a knot, after the mineral matterhas been removed by an acid. The blood-vessels and the cells are still in this bone,while the soft fibres of tissue keep it in shape. A very interesting experiment can be made to illus-trate the action of an acid on mineral matter. Placean egg in strong vinegar for a few hours. The acid ofthe vinegar will dissolve the lime, and leave nothingbut a soft membrane for a covering. The egg can nowbe pushed through the opening of a bottle much smallerthan its own diameter. As soon as it is in the bottleit will assume its original shape; and the puzzle is tohave your friends discover how such a large egg couldbe put through so small an opening. Bend, or break? From what has been said, it is veryclear that if the bones do not contain the proper amountof mineral matter, they will bend before they will break.On the other hand, if they do not contain enough animalmatter, they will easily break. THE BONES. 31 In early life there is alwcays an

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