If you are interested to know why a certain plant does not flourish in the temperature and light to which it has been accustomed, you investigate the soil—the source of nourishment—and thus determine why the downy or velvety appearance has left the flower; why the leaves are yellow, dry or falling; why the stems are withering. Even the most ignorant person knows that the symptoms the plant presents did not bring about the unsuitableness of the soil; that, on the contrary, the condition of the soil is responsible for the plant's present state. Would it not be unwisdom, therefore, to treat directly the symptoms of decay, instead of treating the soil, or changing it? Just so misguided is the judgment of the physician who prescribes physic or tonics in the case of a person having a foul intestinal canal, a condition destructive of the absorbent and the excretory glands. But members of county medical societies do just such foolish things. Notwithstanding their prescriptions, a point will be reached by the patient where the restoration of his millions of small rootlets, or organic feeders, will be impossible, and like a decaying plant in unfavorable soil he gradually decays or withers, here and there, until finally he topples over before he knows it, probably long before maturity has been reached.
It is not generally known among laymen, nor sufficiently appreciated among physicians, that the mass of fecal matter normally evacuated from the bowels comes mainly from the blood; and that this mass is not, as it is usually supposed to be, the residue of the food that has been left unassimilated. Embedded in the mucous membrane of the colon are tubular glands under the control of the nervous system. When these glands become unduly excited through local inflammation and irritation, the normal flow from them is increased to such an extent that a rapid waste of precious tissue occurs throughout the system, and the vital force—which had taken perhaps years to store—is depleted to the point of exhaustion, sometimes even in a few hours. Almost every one has had some experience of exhaustion following diarrhea.
The increased flow of blood to the mucous membrane of the colon furthers this extraordinary secretion by the glands. As has been pointed out, inflammation, septic poisoning, intestinal foulness, or retained feces, act as irritants on the mucous membranes, thereby drawing the blood to the colon where it is excreted and exhaustion follows. The great danger in diarrhea, therefore, is the rapid depletion of the vital force. But when the small intestines are affected the consequences may be still more deplorable. Then the unassimilated food is hurried along too quickly for absorption and the body receives but little nourishment to restore its powers. Thus another draught is made upon the sufferer's reservoir of vitality, and hence additional exhaustion. But this waste of tissue, loss of vital force, non-assimilation and non-supply, are not so grave as the positive danger of the permanent destruction of the millions of small absorbing vessels (villi) of the small intestine by a continuance of this abnormal irritation. Of course the secretory and excretory glands of the colon also suffer, and we then have costiveness resulting from lack of absorption and excretion.
Abnormal irritability of the bowels is necessarily involved in the inflammatory process known as proctitis and colitis. Increase this irritability to a certain point and diarrhea takes the place of constipation—a much more alarming symptom. Diarrhea is more alarming because the intensified local activity of the excretory glands of the bowels brings on, as has been said, a general exhaustion of the vital powers.
The severity of diarrheal symptoms is much increased by the character and abundance of bacterial poisons. Bacteria find a ready medium in fetid feces, and are absorbed by the excited glands to the degree in which these glands have time and power for absorption. Of course the extent and character of the intestinal irritation have a good deal to do with the severity of the diarrheal symptoms. This irritation is not infrequently intensified by a catarrhal process, or by a lesion of an ulcerative nature. All these forms of irritation bring on "excessive intestinal peristalsis"—which, accordingly, is our definition of diarrhea. The normal peristaltic action of the intestines propels the nutritive as well as the effete material through the canal at a rate that allows of both proper absorption and timely elimination. But when excessive peristalsis occurs, neither absorption nor elimination will be normal or suited to the requirements of the system.
Undigested foodstuffs may become an irritant, or increase, as is usually the case, the established irritation, and thus bring on an acute attack of diarrhea. The immediate consequence of the acute attack may indeed be, and often is, comparatively beneficial, inasmuch as the diarrhea removes the undigested material that occasioned the irritation. When this removal is accomplished, the diarrhea usually subsides without treatment. This is the case, however, only when the patient has committed an infrequent error in diet. When such errors are habitual the burden on the glands of the intestinal mucous membrane becomes intolerable, and the chronic inflammation once established has a tendency to proceed from bad to worse. It will then be observed that digestion becomes more and more impaired. In such a case diarrhea will no longer serve a good end, but will on the contrary debilitate the system. A change to better dietetic habits will then aid, but will not suffice for cure. Only treatment and time will restore the inflamed parts to a healthy tone. When, however, the digestive tract is invaded by any of the many forms of bacteria, treatment will avail little and serious consequences follow rapidly.
Too much cannot be said or done to secure intestinal cleanliness in infancy, childhood and maturity. Mothers and nurses cannot give this subject too much thought and care, since the welfare of future generations depends largely upon intestinal cleanliness, in view of the rich and racy life of our hothouse civilization. We are a people poisoned through constipation and diarrhea: two affections that derange more lives than all other pathological conditions together. Banish alimentary uncleanliness and you take most of the poisons from the human race—poisons that stunt the body and blunt the mind.
The soul of man should dwell in a palace, not in a pest-house; in a human temple, velvety, lined with down, inside and out; in which there are hundreds of millions of lilliputian trappings, fittings and articles of furniture, to carry on the minute and finer functions and chemistry of the soul. The very multitude of the fine equipments that decorate the temple give it that beautiful blending of color and form which its coating has when in normal condition. They adorn this body-house with health, and supply it with the rich red wine of joy.
The blood is dependent for its richness not only on the digestive fluids, but also on the proper eliminating powers of the system. If you would avoid premature decay you must not neglect the reservoir of vitality, the alimentary canal, but see to it that it be kept clean and pure. Then will the elixir of life spring from an almost inexhaustible fountain. To recur to our plant analogy. Keep the soil in your own vegetable garden sweet, for intestinal cleanliness corresponds to soil fitness. Purity of the stomach and bowels is more important than quantity or quality of food. That defecation should occur normally two or three times in twenty-four hours is more important than that three meals should be eaten within that time. The conveniences for eating and drinking are on every hand, but oh, how few, inaccessible, miserably constructed, and poorly cared for, are the toilet cabinets for the accommodation of the gourmand! Suspenders and silk hats mark the progress of our outer refinement; toilet cabinets and flushing appliances, of our inner. When the inner refinement comes we shall live longer and be healthier.