THE BLOOD 35 



should cultivate those habits that are beneficial and avoid 

 those that are harmful in their effects. Most of the 

 hygiene of the blood, however, is properly included in 

 the hygiene of the organs that act upon the blood a fact 

 which makes it unnecessary to treat this subject fully at 

 this time. 



From a health standpoint, the most. important constitu- 

 ents of the blood are, perhaps, the corpuscles. These are 

 usually sufficient in number and vigor in the blood of those 

 who take plenty of physical exercise, accustom them- 

 selves to outdoor air and sunlight, sleep sufficiently, and 

 avoid the use of injurious drugs. On the other hand, 

 they are deficient in quantity and inferior in quality in 

 the bodies of those who pursue an opposite course. Im- 

 purities not infrequently find their way into the blood 

 through the digestive organs.' One should eat wholesome, 

 well-cooked food, drink freely of pure water, and limit the 

 quantity of food to what can be properly digested. The 

 natural purifiers of the blood are the organs of excretion. 

 The skin is one of these and its power to throw off impu- 

 rities depends upon its being clean and active. 



Effect of Drugs. Certain drugs and medicines, includ- 

 ing alcohol and quinine, 1 have recently been shown to 

 destroy the white corpuscles. The effect of such sub- 

 stances, if introduced in considerable amount in the body, 

 is to render one less able to withstand attacks of disease. 

 Many patent medicines are widely advertised for purifying 

 the blood. While these may possibly do good in particu- 

 lar cases, the habit of doctoring one's self with them is 

 open to serious objection. Instead of taking drugs and 

 patent medicines for purifying the blood, one should study 

 to live more hygienically. We may safely rely upon 



1 Metchnikoff, The New Hygiene. 



