332 ELEMENTS OF PHYSIOLOGY 



For one unaccustomed to free water-drinking it is not always easy to 

 contract the habit. Some application is necessary. The following is 

 a good rule for general usage : On rising, two tumblers of cold water. 

 Then allow half an hour's interval before breakfast. Two hours after 

 breakfast, and until within a half hour of lunch or dinner, three tumblers 

 of water. During the interval between two hours after the midday meal 

 and one half hour before supper or dinner, three or four tumblers. 

 During the time between two hours after dinner or supper until bed- 

 time, two tumblers. This means ten tumblers, or about two quarts per 

 day; and this is as little as any one can afford to take." 



Adapted from W. R. C. LATSON, M.D. 



5. Nature alone can cure. This is the highest law of practical 

 medicine. . . . Nature creates and maintains ; she must therefore be 

 able to cure. ROKITANSKY. 



6. Appetites given away. A lady once asked a physician where 

 she could get an appetite. " Out in the fresh air," he said ; "just go 

 right out and get one. Nature has thousands of appetites to give away. 

 The winter atmosphere is full of them. All that Nature asks is that 

 you come after them yourself." 



7. That modern clothing is ugly and inartistic, that it is destructive of 

 ease, grace, and expressiveness, that it produces stiffness, rigidity, and 

 awkwardness, there can be no doubt. 



One of the most learned and famous physicians in Europe has stated 

 that the principal cause of modern disease is clothing. A cramped 

 body means disease. The body must be free from pressure. Continu- 

 ous pressure anywhere means derangement of function. The worst 

 feature of clothing is that it occasions pressure at certain critical points, 

 namely, around the chest, about the waist, at the back of the neck, and 

 about the limbs. The tightly-buttoned coat and the snug-fitting dress 

 make natural breathing impossible. The ribs are drawn inward and 

 downward, the breastbone is depressed, and the beautiful rotundity of 

 the arched chest is lost usually forever. The pressure upon the back 

 of the neck from a shortened coat-collar causes the head to fall forward 

 and affects the chest in the same manner. 



The most injurious effect of the corset is that it depresses and con- 

 tracts the chest, and thus not only impedes the action of the heart, 

 lungs, and stomach, but causes a prolapse, or falling, of all the organs. 

 Another injurious result of the corset-wearing is that it interferes with 

 the action of the intestines (peristalsis) and with the blood circulation, 

 thus producing constipation and various inflammatory conditions and 

 displacements of abdominal and pelvic organs. 



The pressure of a tight hatband is undoubtedly the principal cause 



