58 PLAIN FACTS FOR OLD AND YOUNG 



There is really very small excuse for the use of sugar 

 in its usual form, as nature gives us an abundance of 

 sweet fruits. 



The liver is a most sacrificing organ, not hesitating 

 to remove from the blood poisonous substances, even 

 retaining them in itself, instead of allowing them to 

 circulate in the rest of the body. Hence it is that when 

 a person dies in a drunken fit, the liver is found to con- 

 tain more alcohol than any other part of the body. 

 The same is true of mercury, arsenic, and other metallic 

 poisons, in cases in which death has resulted from their 

 use. Hence, also, follows the great mischief to the 

 liver from the use of mustard, pepper, pepper-sauce, 

 and all hot and irritating condiments. Notwithstand- 

 ing the generous behavior of the liver, it is blamed for 

 a vast number of human ailments for which it is not 

 responsible. Take good care of your liver, and it will 

 never tire of taking excellent care of you. 



Twenty Square Feet of Skin.— Anatomists tell 

 us that if the entire skin of the body were removed 

 and spread out, it would cover an area of twenty feet, 

 —considerable more territory than one would be likely 

 to estimate. 



Viewed by the unaided eye, this covering of the 

 body is not particularly interesting. Viewed with the 

 microscoi)e, the skin is found to be a very complicated 

 and wonderful structure. Its outer portion is com- 

 posed of several layers of little flat scales, which over- 

 lap one another, and form a sort of horny protection 

 for the more delicate parts beneath. Its lower portion 

 contains the elements which constitute the true skin, 

 and these consist, first, of a network of elastic fibers, 

 which give to the skin its great distensibility. As the 

 body develops, the skin is stretched to accommodate 



