THE CAUSATION OF DISEASE. I 5 I 



to change the food into the unformed part of the blood, neces- 

 sarily leads to a universal modification of cell-E, which 

 occurring at a period of active body- growth, produces an evil 

 effect which no amount of subsequent care can entirely obli- 

 terate. How far this disorder is prevalent among the upper 

 classes I cannot say, but I do know that it is fairly common 

 among them. Wherefore, owing to this tendency to in- 

 testinal disease in children, the first question in almost 

 every disease in children, should be, a What are the motions 

 like?" 



If we could keep the motions always normal, we should have 

 few or no delicate children. 



Now I have instanced this disorder, because it plays a fearful 

 part in the destiny of man ; exaggerated though this statement 

 may appear, it is sober truth. Let it not be thought that 

 those who survive its ravages are only temporarily affected. 

 Their whole future is influenced thereby. If among a large 

 family the majority are strong and vigorous, while two or 

 three have been delicate from infancy, the chances are a 

 hundred to one that a history of chronic intestinal trouble can 

 be elicited as the cause of the delicacy. 



And thus also it is with many other diseases ; owing to the 

 mutual dependence of the different tissues, it is impossible 

 to localize a trouble : the effects ramify throughout the entire 

 body. A neglected whooping-cough, a chronic tonsillitis, or 

 what not, may stamp a life-long impress upon the body. How 

 marked and extensive, for instance, are the secondary effects of 

 prolonged tonsillar enlargement ! The proper growth of the 

 nostrils is interfered with, the mouth is kept continually 

 open, indeed, the whole physiognomy is altered. Moreover, 

 air is prevented from properly entering the lungs, and collapse 

 is apt to take place ; at all events, the lungs are imperfectly 

 filled, and thus the normal development of the chest wall is 

 interfered with. Now this interference with the proper growth 

 of lung and thoracic wall will rapidly make itself felt throughout 

 the entire organism. In the first place, the respiratory capa- 

 city being diminished, the entire bodily processes will sink, as it 

 were^ to a lower level, and the development and growth of the 

 body will no longer proceed at their wonted rate ; in the second 



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