DANGER POINTS IN THE BODY

Shannon News, 3 August 1926, Page 2

DANGER POINTS IN THE BODY

Some parts of the body are more vulnerable than others. 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 inten. sive study of the reasons why certain parts of the organism are more susceptibl e 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 work, ed-ouf system of striking at these in offensive 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 almdst 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 pressuer 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 move \ulnerable 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 elbow, will produce unbearable pain due to pressure of a nerve trunk against the bone, while a blow on the point of the eblow, ‘or ‘funny bone,’ strikes the ulnar nerve which supplies, a part of the forearm, thus causing pain and immediate helplessness. Pressure upon important nerve branches may also be exerted by grasping the outside of the elbow with the four fingers, at the same time pressing the hollow of the elbow hard with the ' thumb.” dther areas especially susceptible to pain are the upper lip and the abdomen.