xii THE SKIN AND THE KIDNEYS 163 



121. Diseases of the Kidneys. The chief causes of 

 diseases of the kidneys are the following : exposure 

 to cold, failure to keep the skin clean and its pores open, 

 excessive use of alcoholic beverages, indulgence in harm- 

 ful condiments, as mustard, pepper, etc., displacement 

 of these organs due to unhygienic postures of the body 

 and tight clothing, infection by certain bacteria, and 

 habitually eating too much rich foods that are imper- 

 fectly oxidized in the cells. How do colds affect the 

 kidneys ? There is a close relation between the skin 

 and kidneys, and when the pores of the skin are closed, 

 and the blood is driven to the internal organs because 

 of prolonged cold, the kidneys must excrete the wastes 

 ordinarily removed by the skin, and at the same time 

 care for the extra amount of blood forced to them. 

 This extra work the kidneys will do as long as they can, 

 but sooner or later they become diseased from inflam- 

 mation and overwork. 



All diseases, as measles, scarlet fever, etc., accom- 

 panied by an eruption or rash on the skin, cause a con- 

 gestion and inflammation of the kidneys that make them 

 weak and especially liable to disease. During and 

 immediately following such diseases t it is necessary to 

 see that the kidneys are not exposed to cold nor over- 

 worked. 



If the kidneys be removed from an animal, it can live 

 only a few hours. The poisonous wastes accumulate in 

 the blood and soon cause blood poisoning. When these 

 organs are diseased, the functions of all the organs of 

 the body are impaired. The proper removal of the 



