Chapter 3
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of thousands, a vast amount of premature mortality would be pre-
vented. Multitudes of physicians, and multitudes of drugs, have cursed
the inhabitants of the earth, and have carried thousands and tens of
thousands to untimely graves.
Indulging in eating too frequently, and in too large quantities,
overtaxes the digestive organs, and produces a feverish state of the
system. The blood becomes impure, and then diseases of various kinds
occur. A physician is sent for, who prescribes some drug which gives
present relief, but which does not cure the disease. It may change
the form of disease, but the real evil is increased tenfold. Nature was
doing her best to rid the system of an accumulation of impurities, and,
could she have been left to herself, aided by the common blessings of
Heaven, such as pure air and pure water, a speedy and safe cure would
have been effected.
The sufferers, in such cases, can do for themselves that which
others cannot do as well for them. They should commence to relieve
nature of the load they have forced upon her. They should remove
the cause. Fast a short time, and give the stomach chance for rest.
Reduce the feverish state of the system by a careful and understanding
application of water. These efforts will help nature in her struggles to
free the system of impurities. But generally the persons who suffer
pain become impatient. They are not willing to use self-denial, and
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suffer a little from hunger. Neither are they willing to wait the slow
process of nature to build up the overtaxed energies of the system. But
they are determined to obtain relief at once, and take powerful drugs,
prescribed by physicians. Nature was doing her work well, and would
have triumphed, but while accomplishing her task, a foreign substance
of a poisonous nature was introduced. What a mistake! Abused nature
has now two evils to war against instead of one. She leaves the work in
which she was engaged, and resolutely takes hold to expel the intruder
newly introduced into the system. Nature feels this double draft upon
her resources, and she becomes enfeebled.
Drugs never cure disease. They only change the form and location.
Nature alone is the effectual restorer, and how much better could
she perform her task if left to herself. But this privilege is seldom
allowed her. If crippled nature bears up under the load, and finally
accomplishes in a great measure her double task, and the patient lives,
the credit is given to the physician. But if nature fails in her effort