The clearness of the mind, the brightness of the spirits, the beauty of the skin,—in one word, the purity of the whole system, depends upon the free escape of the worn-out matter. You all know about this economy of nature.
Look at this dish of fruit,—grapes, peaches, pears; how beautiful, how fragrant, how delicious. How lusciously they melt in the mouth!
Transfer them to the stomach. If we could watch the interior processes, we should find, in a few hours, these exquisite fruits changed into filthy, poisonous liquids and gases. How shall we get rid of this stuff? The most simple avenue of escape is found in millions of small holes through the skin. Out of these the effete, poisonous matter passes away.
OILY SECRETIONS OF THE SKIN.
The skin is constantly secreting oil. It oozes out and lies on the surface.
We live in an atmosphere filled with dust, besides, there is constantly escaping from our clothes, dust and dirt of various kinds. These things, with the oil of the skin, plug up a portion of the pores, so that the effete, dirty matter cannot escape.
Keeping these poisons in the system, not only produces pimples upon the face, and discoloration of the skin, but dullness and heaviness of the whole system. The mind becomes foggy, the spirits low, the muscles stiff and sore, the breath and perspiration offensive, the whole system unclean.
Those portions of our skins that we cover with clothes are somewhat difficult to keep clean. Roll up your sleeve when your arm is perspiring, and rub the skin hard with your naked hand. You will be surprised at the rolls of dirt which the rubbing will bring away. You may rub some minutes in the same place, before the little rolls will stop coming. This dirt is held by the oil of the skin.
IMPORTANCE OF SOAP.
Nothing cleans the skin like soap. Wetting the skin every morning with simple water, and wiping it off, will not keep it clean. Such simple water baths contribute to cleanliness, and are useful; but the cleanest condition of the surface cannot be secured by such means.