THE KON-COKTAGIOUS DISEASES. 219 



If these statements are true they clear up the causes 

 of many spinal and nervous diseases that have never 

 been accounted for. Yet some people are not satisfied 

 with a plain, simple statement of facts, but prefer to 

 build upon theory, something of a sensational nature. 

 But even theory has never given a cause for epilepsy. 



Epilepsy. 



Epilepsy seems to have been born without a father; 

 and like Topsy it never had a mother, yet disorders of 

 digestion, depression of spirits, loss of vigor, a feeling 

 of languor, an unhealthy system, and a clouded brain, 

 are common in epileptics, thus giving evidence of a lack 

 of nourishment. This robs the blood of its natural 

 elements. It has been stated that the higher forms of 

 digestion are carried on in the circulation ; for instance, 

 oxidation aids bodily combustion by burning certain 

 elements in the blood; i. e., by uniting with them and 

 producing what are called end-products, so called be- 

 cause such products undergo no further change, but are 

 eliminated. 



To illustrate: As a result of the tissue-change go- 

 ing on in the body uric acid is produced. By oxidation 

 this is converted into urea and eliminated by the kid- 

 neys, but with septic blood oxidation is incomplete and 

 urea is not formed, the change stops one step short, 

 and the uric acid remains as an irritating substance 

 carried through the circulation. This results in inflam- 

 mation and degenerative changes in all the tissues of 

 the bod}r. The uric acid and other irritating substances 



