Another World: Fragments from the Star City of MontalluyahLumley, Benjamin
Science
Another World: Fragments from the Star City of Montalluyah
Lumley, Benjamin
Utopias
The ordinary appearance of perspiration in a healthy state is that of an
oleaginous liquid consistency resembling, say, a thin cream; but the
water exuded by the lungs has the appearance of dew, and is indeed
called by a term signifying "lung-dew." It does not amalgamate with the
oleaginous part of the perspiration.
Our doctors at first thought that they could detect incipient
consumption from the appearance of this dew, whilst they had only
ascertained that the germs of some one of several diseases existed in
the system. For although the presence of lung-dew in any quantity gives
intimation that all is not right, the specific malady is not indicated
with certainty. The application of certain tests to the patient is
necessary to discover the particular disease with the incipient germs of
which he is afflicted.
Disease and contagion difficult to deal with in their advanced stages,
when they have already made their presence known by symptoms too
palpable to be disregarded, are easily mastered in their germ.
To collect the perspiration, a little instrument, called "the scraper,"
is passed over the skin, and at each turn deposits the perspiration in
an air-tight receptacle attached to the instrument.
The blood was found to be but a partial test of disease, for there is
much in the body which does not mingle with the blood, whilst the
perspiration contains impurities thrown off by every part of the
organization, and, when examined through our microscopes, never fails to
give warning.
At the same time the blood is the subject of deep study in Montalluyah;
and every point connected with its component parts, colour, circulation,
heat, quality, purification, is thoroughly understood.
The physicians sometimes examine the breath. With this view, the patient
breathes on a little instrument saturated with a preparation which
condenses and retains the breath. Ample opportunity is thus afforded for
its microscopic examination, and for the discovery of the unhealthy
particles with which the breath may be impregnated.
XV.
MADNESS.
"Think not others blind because ye will not see....The concentrated
light of the soul is not visible to the naked eye."
The microscope also led to the discovery of the incipient causes of
madness, by the facility it afforded us for the dissection and
examination of the minutest portions of the numerous divisions of the
brain.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account