414 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



offer the same degree of resistance to intestinal and other poisons, and 

 the great eliminating organs begin to exhibit a gradual lessening in 

 functional activity. The theories of immunity rest upon the assump- 

 tion of the presence of some proteid body in the blood which endows 

 the whole system with powers of resistance to toxins. Exhaustion, 

 especially such as is induced by the emotions, fatigue, grief, anger and 

 fear, are well known to weaken the protective power of these mysterious 

 agencies. At the time of the so-called change of life, woman is us- 

 ually burdened with the maximum of her cares and labors and too 

 often at this time the severest griefs assail. If she be single there is 

 a species of spiritual awakening and the realization that youth is 

 utterly past. In married women the disappointments which follow 

 upon enthusiastic expectations become manifest, and in numberless 

 ways strains are thrust upon the organism. It must be remembered 

 that the greatest maturity of the powers, also, are evident at this time, 

 and therefore she should be capable of meeting all exigencies. The 

 whole question may be summed up in a few words : if a woman, married 

 or single, will so order her life that she retains to the best of her ability 

 her physical and mental vigor, and if she also sets her face sedulously 

 toward looking upon the bright side of existence and ignores emotional 

 impressions of a disagreeable character, she has nothing to fear as life 

 moves steadily on the downward incline. 



