The HYGIENIC SYSTEM By Herbert M. Shelton, D.P., N.D., D.C., D.N.T., D.N.Sc., D.N.Ph., D.N.Litt., Ph.D., D.Orthp. AUTHOR OF HUMAN LIFE: ITS PHILOSOPHY AND LAWS; NATURAL DIET OF MAN; HYGIENIC CARE OF CHILDREN; NATURAL CURE OF SYPHILIS; NATURAL CURE OF CANCER; ETC., ETC. Vol. VI ORTHOPATHY Published By Dr. Shelton's Health School San Antonio, Texas 1939 Note: This scan was made by the Soil and Health Library, http://www.soilandhealth.org HE disciples of Natural Hygiene try to deserve the T blessings that the dupes of the drug-mongers attempt to buy across the counter; instead of changing their hospital or their course of medication they will change their habits, and their loss of faith in a few popular superstitions will be compensated by an abundant gain in health.*** The removal of the cause is a remedy which the sufferers from almost any disease might prescribe for themselves. —Felix L. Oswald. Index Chapter Page Introduction 7 1 Living Matter Cures Itself 27 2 The Rationale of "Disease" 58 3 The Rationale of Fever 114 4 The Rationale of Inflammation 130 5 The Rationale of Crises. 160 6 Self-Limited Diseases 169 7 Biogony Not a Radical Cure 174 8 The Course of Biogony 179 9 Prognosis 188 10 Unity of Diseases and Symptoms 192 11 The Evolution of Pathology 213 12 The Causes of Pathology 254 13 The Causes of Enervation 342 14 The Conditions of Recovery 385 15 Results of Suppression of Biogony 434 DEDICATION o all who believe in the omniscience of T phenomena—that action and reaction are inherent—a part of an object and its environment— and that the two forces are equal—that compensation is ever and forever in the balance of necessity"; that the law of adjustment is always immanent, and demand and supply are ever-present; that "the cause of any and every need of a living entity is at the same time the cause of the satisfaction of that need"; that every noxious influence "acting" on the human body is extinguished eo ipso; that the noxious agent itself occasions the creation of the protective device which renders it innocuous; that the movements of the living organism, in "disease" as in health, are always teleological, always lawful, and always in the highest interest of Life; that the disposition of the forces of Life may safely be left to the eternal and immutable laws of Life; this book is dedicated by The Author Robert Walter HE progress of Medical Reform has reached a stage which to all who Tcan read the signs of the times is a sufficient presage of its victory. Its exponents have obtained a hearing. The transition period of the present age still struggles with the mists of the past, and thousands wander aimless from doubt to doubt; but they have at least ceased to follow the ignus fatuus of the long night. A spirit of free inquiry is abroad: the morning dawns, and light has ever been the ally of Truth. *** "If the right theory should ever be discovered," says Emerson, "we shall know it by this token, that it will solve many riddles." *** The gospel of Natural Hygiene, too, can appeal to the evidence of that crucial test. The theory that disease is something essentially abnormal and can be cured by the adoption of less unnatural modes of living, cannot hope to avoid a conflict with the representatives of the drug interest***. No sophistry is apt to explain away the self-experienced fact that dietetic precaution will completely cure digestive complaints that defy the most elaborate compounds of the drug- store; that fevers which refuse to yield to "antiseptics" can be controlled by refrigeration; that out-door exercise and sunshine will save city children for whose ailments materia medica seemed to have no remedy. And there is an effective difference between time-proved experience and momentary impressions. The dyspeptic who mistakes the effect of a stimulant-fever for a symptom of returning strength, may write a gushing testimonial to the merits of his nostrum, but before his gratitude can exuberate in further efforts, its ardor is apt to be cooled by the discovery that the drug-forced excitement is always followed by a depressing reaction, leaving his torpid liver more torpid than before, and that he might as well have tried to cure the exhaustion of a weary traveler with a shower-bath of vitrol.*** Quacks cannot appeal to constant experience. Sooner or later the load-stars of credulity will set in a mist. —Felix L. Oswald INTRODUCTION On March 4, 1834, a Graham Association was formed in Providence, R. I., "to keep alive and extend the interest already awakened, on a subject of vital importance to the well being of man," and "through which the dissemination of correct principles may be accelerated;" and "to learn the results of practical experiments among the members." This association declined after about three years, at the end of which time efforts were made to revive it. In 1837 the American Physiological Society was formed by a group that had begun holding meetings in the latter part of 1836. The purpose of this Society, as set forth in its constitution, was "to acquire and diffuse a knowledge of the laws of life, and of the means of promoting human health and longevity". Dr. William A. Alcott was elected president. During its short lifetime (it ceased to exist in 1839) this society, which was the first of its kind in the world, issued many tracts on health and held three annual meetings. Weekly papers, as the Graham Journal of Health, the Journal of Health, the last named edited by Alcott, were founded to carry the new message of living reform to the masses. The Graham Journal of Health and Longevity, Devoted to the Practical Illustrations of the Science of Human Life as Taught by Sylvester Graham and Others; and edited by David Cambell, began publication in April, 1837, at 9 Washington St., Boston. Later the Journal was published simultaneously in Boston and New York. Efforts were made to get Graham to edit the Journal, but he desired to devote his time to the completion of his books. The Journal which was at first a weekly, but later became a semi-monthly, was the official organ of the society, and was published to meet the demand of the people who said: "Give us facts, not theories! Let your facts convince us and we will believe." In 1838-39 the Society sponsored two American Health Conventions. The first of these, held in Boston, May 30 to June 1st, 1838, was well attended. The first two days were devoted to the Health Convention and the last day to the Society. One of the questions, for which the Health Convention was called to consider, was, "should physiology be introduced into schools and colleges?" At the convention the Rev. John Pierpont, of Boston, offered the following resolution: "Resolved, That in view of the intellectual and moral benefits to be derived from the diffusion of popular information on anatomy, physiology and hygiene, we look forward with much satisfaction to the day when this class of studies will be introduced into all our colleges and schools." At this Health Convention the following resolution was passed: "Resolved—That we view with deep regret the waste of human life from abusive medicine through learned and unlearned quackery and that nothing will so soon arrest this alarming evil as a correct knowledge of the Science of Human Life." At the session of the Physiological Society it was resolved "that it is of great importance that health societies be formed in every town in our land, and that we use our best endeavors to effect the formation of such societies in every place in which we have any influence". Speaking in support of this resolution, Graham thought the organizations would "attract attention to this important subject, and serve in some measure to awaken a spirit of inquiry *** and lead to considerable improvements in their habits'.' In a letter addressed to Dr. Alcott, President of the society, dated June 27, 1838, Dr. Isaac Jennings urged that "men who are themselves 'rooted and grounded' in correct hygienic principles must give their whole and undivided attention to the work", of lecturing, forming societies and securing funds to carry on the work. A Health Society was formed in Brookfield, Mass. In February, 1838, while Graham was lecturing in New York City, his class appointed a committee to arrange for a Physiological Society similar to the one in Boston. They held their first meeting in Lyceum Hall, Thursday evening, February 5, and organized under the name, the New York Physiological Society and adopted the constitution of the American Physiological Society. The Physiological Society in Boston conducted numerous series of lectures on physiology and the Science of Life. A Ladies' Physiological Society also held monthly meetings in Boston. Because of the many objections offered to Mr. Graham lecturing to ladies on physiology, a call was made for women who would prepare themselves to lecture to female audiences on physiology. Mrs. M. S. Gove of Lynn, Mass., was the first woman to answer the call and after an introductory lecture given August 22, 1838, she started a series of lectures on physiology before the Ladies' Physiological Society, on the first Wednesday in September. About four hundred women attended this first series of lectures and it must be said, to the credit of the leading members of the Boston Medical College, that they encouraged her in her undertaking and offered her every facility as regards drawings and preparation.