736 PLAIN PACTS POR OLD AND YOUNG 



sorts, resulting in the production of poisons, which, 

 when absorbed into the system, are carried to the liver. 

 It is part of the duty of the liver to destroy these as 

 well as other poisons which are naturally produced 

 within the body. The enormous quantities of poison- 

 ous substances which are carried to the liver, after a 

 time overwork it to such a degree that it becomes inca- 

 pable of performing its work completely, and these 

 poisons accumulate within the body. Then the deli- 

 cate membranes which line the joints, cover the mus- 

 cles, form the nerve-sheaths, line the cavities of the 

 body, and cover the vital organs which they contain, 

 soon begin to suffer from the irritating effects of these 

 poisonous substances, and rheumatic symptoms of vari- 

 ous sorts make their appearance. 



Prevention.— It is evident that the prevention of 

 rheumatism consists, first, in the avoidance of what- 

 ever will tend to introduce into the system, or to cause 

 the production within the body, of an abnormal amount 

 of poisonous substances which must be destroyed or 

 removed by the liver and other excretory organs. This 

 requires (1) an abundance of exercise; (2) frequent 

 bathing; (3) a pure diet; and (4) the free use of water. 



Exercise is nature's means of introducing into the 

 body a large quantity of oxygen, by which these poi- 

 sons are destroyed, and of stimulating the circulation, 

 by which they are carried out of the body. The liver 

 cannot destroy poisonous substances without the aid 

 of oxygen. Frequent bathing is a means of maintain- 

 ing activity of the skin and removing those poisonous 

 substances which are thrown out upon the surface of 

 the body, and thus encourages tissue cleanliness. A 

 pure diet is one which excludes such substances as 

 cheese, game, meat which has acquired a high flavor 



