THE NOtf-CONTAGIOUS DISEASES. 223 



First, indigestion from any cause. 



Second, an unhealthy condition of the digestive tract. 



Third, unhealthy blood. 



Fourth, a lack of nourishment which must result. 



Fifth, the retained waste acting as an irritant and 

 setting up a low form of inflammation (temperature 

 may not be raised). 



Sixth, production of morbid or diseased tissue and 

 destruction of the natural, with corresponding loss of 

 organic function. 



Seventh, lowering of all the vital forces; the powers 

 of resistance being more or less diminished. 



Eighth, contracting and hardening of the newly 

 formed tissue, producing degenerative changes in all 

 the organs of the body. 



The effect extends all the way from slight symptoms 

 to more severe forms, and death. 



These conditions and changes actually occur, as every 

 pathologist can testify. 



In all cases disease, any disease, is an indication that 

 the system lacks nourishment, that lowering tendencies 

 have been going on in the body, that waste and repair 

 are not equal, that the nervous system has gradually 

 lost control. 



It would be unreasonable to say that disease is caused 

 by an increase in power or strength of the individual. 



If disease is due to a lack of nourishment, this has 

 been brought about by bad air, poor food, poor diges- 

 tion resulting from rapid eating, eating too much, from 

 whisky or tobacco, from tight lacing, from lack of exer- 



