Health
117
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 ten fold. 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
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of impurities. But generally the persons who suffer pain become
impatient. They are not willing to use self-denial, and 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
to expel the poison from the system, and the patient dies, it is called
a wonderful dispensation of Providence. If the patient had taken a
course to relieve overburdened nature in season, and understandingly
used pure soft water, this dispensation of drug mortality might have
been wholly averted. The use of water can accomplish but little, if the
patient does not feel the necessity of also strictly attending to his diet.