Part 14

The heat from “burning” wood is produced by the oxygen of the air uniting with hydrogen and carbon, forming carbon-dioxid (carbonic acid gas) and water.

The light in the burning of wood is caused by the rapid combustion of the carbonic acid gas. The same combustion occurs within the body continuously, though more slowly, hence no light is produced.

The carbon in the body is liberated and brought into contact with more oxygen in the blood through exercise and full breathing, just as a fire is fanned to flame by bringing more oxygen into contact with the fire, by means of a draught of air. Keep all air away from a fire and it “goes out,” or ceases to unite with the oxygen, and no heat is produced; keep all air from within the body, by cessation of breathing, and it also becomes cold. A room in which the air is impure, containing insufficient oxygen, is heated with difficulty,—the body which is not constantly supplied with pure air generates very little body heat. The effect of oxygen in the creation of heat is practically demonstrated by repeatedly filling the lungs with air while out in the cold. The body will become quickly warmed on the coldest day by this practice.

Deep breathing aids digestion and assimilation, not alone because of the regular exercise given to the pancreas, the spleen, the stomach, and the liver by the correct movement of the diaphragm, but because of the latent heat which the oxygen liberates within the digestive organs and out among the tissues.

While the chemical action of food creates activity within, this activity is materially aided by exercise, and oxygen is imperative, as shown above. Exercise and oxygen are also necessary for chemical action in tearing down waste and in putting raw material into condition to be appropriated to the body needs.

Two glasses of water in the morning and fifteen minutes’ brisk exercise of well selected movements, to start a forceful circulation and to surge the water through the vital organs, are a daily necessity if one is to keep clean and strong within. It is as important to cleanse the body within as without. It is the method employed by all men and women who would retain strong vital forces to a ripe old age. They fully enjoy the mere LIVING.

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Since the condition of the body so materially affects the digestion, absorption, and metabolism of food, as well as the elimination of waste, it is not amiss to discuss it here.

The habit of eating when too tired and then at once going to work, so that the blood is called from the stomach, is almost sure to result in indigestion.

The average person is tired because the brain and nerves are more active than the muscles and is rested by muscular exercise, or change of work.

The regular work of the body in keeping up the heart action and the circulation and in renewing and relieving waste, requires a certain quantity of oxygen to liberate energy. This energy the system, in normal condition, with normal breathing, readily furnishes, but when that used in undue muscular work is more than that being liberated at the time, through combustion, the energy required for the constant bodily needs is called upon, and the muscles, nerves and tissues are then in the state termed “tired.” They remain so until sufficient oxygen has liberated more potential energy than is needed for the work constantly going on in the body. When a sufficient supply of oxygen has been consumed to equal the demand, the body is in a state of rest.

In mental work the nerves and the brain call for the surplus energy, while in muscular work the tissues require it, hence undue work, either mental or physical, expresses itself in bodily fatigue, until the oxygen equals the demand in all parts of the body.

A torpid condition of body, producing inertness, means that the waste of the system is not relieved. It may be that by reason of insufficient breathing of pure air, sufficient oxygen is not consumed to put the waste in condition to be eliminated. This poisonous carbon dioxid being hoarded, dulls the nerve sensation and the brain action and produces more or less of stupor. It may be because the circulation in some part of the body is clogged (most often the portal circulation through the liver), so that sufficient oxygen is not carried to that part.

Relief from this “inertness” is experienced most quickly by exercise in the fresh air, that the circulation may be quickened and the oxygen more freely carried to each part. Exercise in one’s room by the open window, or at least with the air in the room pure, is often preferable to outdoor exercise, because the body can be nude, or so loosely clothed that the oxygen may not only enter the lungs but also circulate about the pores of the skin. Fifteen minutes of brisk exercise in one’s room is better than a five-mile walk, because if the exercises be intelligently selected, every organ and tissue is used, while walking exercises only about one-fourth of the muscles. If the circulation is clogged, the exercising must be kept up persistently, until the obstruction is removed and particular attention must be given to the supply of fresh air in the room.

After sleeping in a room with impure air, one arises fatigued, because of insufficient oxygen to liberate the energy required for circulation and catabolism, and because the carbonic acid gas cannot be relieved without oxygen to cause combustion. As stated above, if the poisonous carbonic acid gas remains in the system, it deadens the nerve sensation and produces a semi-stupor.

The relief, then, from the state of body we call “tired,” is in the distribution of the circulation, calling the blood from the unduly distended capillaries, and supplying the normal quantity of oxygen. Rightly directed physical exercise renews the circulation to all parts, incites deep breathing, and puts the body in the state of harmony called “rest.”

Harmony, either mental or physical, is rest.

With a little more intelligence in keeping up the supply and demand of oxygen, in establishing correct breathing habits, and in understanding the law of distribution of circulation, which means the harmony of forces, this tired world could draw a deep, restful breath.

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The state of the mind has much to do in regulating the digestive system. Cheerful thoughts put the nerves of the entire organism in a natural state, while disagreeable thoughts put the nerves in a tense, unnatural condition. The nerves to the digestive system are affected by the tensity of the mind, just as the nerves to any other part of the body. As an illustration of this;—if one thinks ugly, disagreeable thoughts for a continuous period, actual illness results. These thoughts affect the digestion in such a manner that the appetite sometimes entirely wanes. All so-called “new thoughts,” “ologies,” or “isms,” conducive to the formation of the habit of looking upon the bright side of life, or of looking for good and joy in life, put the nerves in a natural state, affecting the digestion and consequently the health. The practice is Christian Sense.

The nerves control, to a great degree, the peristaltic movements of the stomach and the action of the absorption cells, as well as the cells which secrete the digestive juices. Thus it is that a food which one likes is not only more palatable, but it will digest more readily, because the digestive juices flow more freely.

It is well, therefore, to begin the meal with something which tastes particularly good, that the flow of these digestive juices may be incited. For this reason, if one cares for fruit, it is an excellent custom to begin the meal with fruit, or with soup, containing protein extractives, which stimulate the flow of digestive juices. The habit of finishing a meal with some tasty dessert, is based upon the scientific principle that by so doing the gastric juices will flow more freely after the meal, thus aiding in its digestion.

Dainty service in a sick-room, because of the psychic effect of a meal daintily served, is of utmost importance. Because of the effect upon the mind the sight of a meal served upon soiled linen will almost stop the flow of gastric juice and destroy the desire for food, while a meal daintily served upon dainty linen, with garnishings and tasteful table decorations, incites the flow of gastric juices.

The careful wife and mother, who notes the appetites of members of her family failing, should attend carefully to the garnishing of her dishes and to serving them in a neat, attractive manner; also to changing her table decorations, as far as may be consistent, so that the eye as well as the sense of smell and taste may be pleased.

It is strange, but it is true, that just a fresh flower, or a new table decoration, may so put the mind of one who is afflicted with nervous indigestion in a receptive state that the meal more readily digests, while an untidy table, or a lot of food served untidily would retard digestion. One may be able to control the thoughts under most circumstances but the above is a physiological fact.

Sometimes the sight of quantities of food turns one against it. The custom among hearty eaters, of serving a plate too plentifully, destroys the appetite of one whose digestion is not so hearty.

Our grandmothers’ overloaded tables, with sufficient food of various kinds to serve many times the number of participants, might stimulate the appetite of hearty, strong men, while the very sight of so much might turn the appetite of one more delicate, whose system did not crave food.

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