Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1884-05-15
A Neglected skin.

A Neglected Skin.
Cold days and nights ate often causef
Of disease. Cold temperatures check
the circulation of the blood, Or force
from the skin to the inner organs of the
body. The cold moistures of the air in
early spring causes more illness than
many may suppose. It retains the
skin waste materials, that should evap-
crate and leave the body-and often
gives rise to severe diseases, that are
not easily removed by art. Not only in
summer, but in spring. the skin should
be cleansed often enough to remove
from the surface of the body all e!iete
material that if not removed would be
absorbed by capillaries. or otherwise,
and ultimately mingle with the blood.
or should close the pores so well as to
exclude that large amount of air that all
the tissues continually need. Then if
perspiration occurs and dust collects
upon the skin coating is soon formed,
that impairs the general circulation of
the blood.
1t is fact, seen by all, that air is not
only inhaled by the lungs, but absorbed
by the skin and mucous membrane and
then in various ways comes in contact
with all the mucous surfaces. The
great objection to rubber clothing is
that it is impervious to perspiratiOn and
retains it upon the surface of the skin
and causes it to be absorbed and min
gled with the blood. Thus it vitiates
this vital fluid. The effects of retain
ing effete matter are often manifested
in the rank and offensive perspiration Of
those whose duties require them to make
great muscular exertions. The often
siveness OF certain parts, as the arm-pits,
spaces between the toes, means that ma
ture intended that these parts should re-
ceive special care. We have often had
occasion to observe that uncleanliness
of the surface of the body demands q
penalty. Filth will introduce disease
it be in the air we breathe, or
in the air our skins absorb. Filth ulti-
mately extends its influence to every
form of the body, every capillary of the
skin and of the mucous membrane.
These two surfaces are closely con-
nected. Disease in the one will often
quietly extend to the other. The wise
treatment of typhoid fever indicates this
very state of things. Our best physi-
clans say to their patients of this class,
" cleanse your skin every day, change
your body clothing every day." All
these directions signify that keeping
the skin-pores closed for long time is
the true cause of typhoid fever, is the
n uIp tho Of tho fnvnr. ~ Tho
first step then towards removing the
disease, or palliating the symptoms and
bringing them to an ends to remove
the cause, forcing the bad materials in
the system away and allowing good
to come in.
People place too much confidence in
medicine and too little in good nursing.
In most eases of disease, all art ought
to do or can do is to remove causes and
Instructions in various organs of secre-
ton and in the alimentary canal. We
battle the skin, that this cutaneous sur
face may discharge its peculiar func-
lions, to keep in health and activity the
myriads of minute glands that were in
tended to purify the vital fluid. Any
obstruction to the functions of the skin
DR. mucous membrane impedes or inn
pairs the harmonious action of the en-
tire systemic circle. Art should aid
nature in all her duties. She should
remove all obstacles that nature can not
reach. Give nature fair chance and
she will successfully exert her recuper-
alive powers.
A distinguished Lord Bishop in En-
gland was i'll at times during series of
7ears. His physician, a man of note in
lis profession, always prescribed for
lis Lordship some medicine that seemed
Useful in his case. The good and shrewd
Bishop always recovered, until he final
Y died. He left a will, giving to his
physician a very large oaken trunk
ull of treasures. The trunk was heavy,
,ut on being opened it was found to
contain nearly all the bottles of medi-
inc the physician had given him
or a long series of years. The Bishop
cit that he had rather pay the physi-
;ian's bill than take his medicine. A
arge number of diseases exist in every
that are self-iimited, that pass
way without any medicine, or only
hose that are of the mildest sort-so
mild as to do no harm if they do no good.
Nj such diseases need is rest of body,
uiet of mind, and pleasant friends to
muse and help pass away the time.
Typhoid fever is usually the result of
series of bad exposures and negli-
.ences. Neglect of cleanliness in per-
on, clothes and dwellings may not be
t once injurious. But often the equiv
lent is dema -ded in the form of some
isease and sufferings. Heat, chills,
backache, dry skin and
Mouth, quick pulse and restlessness an
ounce that the stronghold of health
nd strength has surrendered and is
rafting to receive the terms OF capitu-
alton. Any person who neglects the
Avs of health must expect to pay the
enalty. Some persons hope to escape
he penalty by pleading ignorance. But
ignorance of law is no excuse for break
~ law even in our court. Bad air will
olson the blood and induce disease,
7hether we know the law or not. An
mclean skin will generate disease.-C.
I. Allen, NJ. d., in Western Rural.