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Selected Messages Book 2
the blessings of light and air, and need to observe habits of cleanliness
in order to remain well, the sick are in still greater need of them in
proportion to their debilitated condition.
A great amount of suffering might be saved if all would labor to
prevent disease, by strictly obeying the laws of health. Strict habits
of cleanliness should be observed. Many, while well, will not take
the trouble to keep in a healthy condition. They neglect personal
cleanliness, and are not careful to keep their clothing pure. Impurities
are constantly and imperceptibly passing from the body, through the
pores, and if the surface of the skin is not kept in a healthy condition,
the system is burdened with impure matter. If the clothing worn is not
often washed, and frequently aired, it becomes filthy with impurities
which are thrown off from the body by sensible and insensible per-
spiration. And if the garments worn are not frequently cleansed from
these impurities, the pores of the skin absorb again the waste matter
thrown off. The impurities of the body, if not allowed to escape, are
taken back into the blood, and forced upon the internal organs. Nature,
to relieve herself of poisonous impurities, makes an effort to free the
system, which effort produces fevers, and what is termed disease. But
even then, if those who are afflicted would assist nature in her efforts,
by the use of pure, soft water, much suffering would be prevented.
But many, instead of doing this, and seeking to remove the poisonous
matter from the system, take a more deadly poison into the system, to
remove a poison already there.
If every family realized the beneficial results of thorough cleanli-
ness, they would make special efforts to remove every impurity from
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their persons, and from their houses, and would extend their efforts
to their premises. Many suffer decayed vegetable matter to remain
about their premises. They are not awake to the influence of these
things. There is constantly arising from these decaying substances
an effluvia that is poisoning the air. By inhaling the impure air, the
blood is poisoned, the lungs become affected, and the whole system is
diseased. Disease of almost every description will be cause by inhaling
the atmosphere affected by these decaying substances.
Families have been afflicted with fevers, some have died, and the
remaining portion of the family circle have almost murmured against
their Maker because of their distressing bereavements, when the sole
cause of all their sickness and death has been the result of their own