What these irresolute dabblers in “medical fads” need most of all is to be inoculated with good, sound common sense, but until some method is discovered for the accomplishment of that psychological feat, they will continue to run hither and thither after every new remedy, dallying with all, and deriving benefit from none.
Perseverance in the treatment will achieve results that seem little short of miraculous to those accustomed to the “hit or miss” methods that have so long been in use. And, best of all, the benefit attained will be permanent, for the system being thoroughly cleansed, and kept so, nothing but fresh, firm, healthy tissue is formed, so that after a year’s conscientious treatment the person practising it will be practically a new being.
IMPORTANT SUGGESTIONS.
In dealing with the subject of constipation, which is the most prevalent of all disorders of the body, and is, in fact, the fundamental cause of ninety per cent. of human ills: the importance of drinking freely of water, from one to two hours after eating a meal, cannot be over-estimated, and most essential of all is the glass of water, half an hour before breakfast. If the digestion is faulty, the morning glass should be hot and sipped slowly.
Dr. James C. Minor, in his clever book, “The Plan o’ the House o’ Man, Sir,” makes an excellent suggestion which I heartily endorse, as follows: “Never rise from rest without turning on the left side for a few minutes (although an hour is better), to empty the contents of the ascending colon to the transverse colon and thence to the descending colon, which is on the left side of the body. Never lie on the left side of the body while food, water or medicine is in the stomach.” If attention be paid to these simple suggestions, much trouble may be averted.
PART V.
Practical Hygiene.
Of all the dangers by which we are menaced, none is so greatly to be apprehended as ignorance. This is especially true with reference to health. The majority of people fall easy victims to disease, simply through ignorance of the fundamental principles that govern health. It is because they do not rise superior to this ignorance concerning the health of their bodies that they become the prey of the unscrupulous charlatans who thrive upon the maladies of humanity, and the patent medicine vendors whose specious advertisements beguile them of their money. The humiliating part of it is that these same imposters (in a large majority of cases) possess but little more knowledge of these subjects than their dupes, but are absolutely devoid of conscientious scruples. It behooves every intelligent individual to see that this reproach is lifted from him. Knowledge is held to be a valuable possession in every department of life; but in no instance will it yield greater returns for the investment than in the field of hygiene—in learning how to keep well.
It must not be imagined that because the treatment previously described is such a wonderful curative and preventive of disease that nothing more is necessary—that all other hygienic measures can be ignored. These bodies of ours were given us for a nobler purpose than to be the sport of our caprice or neglect. It is our duty to treat them as a divine trust.