Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-02
,.IS Home Health | Club By DAVID 5. RREDER, Ph. D., ND.
 La Porte, Ind.
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that in which the veins of the lower limbs become relaxed and swollen, sometimes even bursting. A person who has just passed what is, strictly speaking, middle life, or one who has had severe strain brought to bear upon strength which is still yonug, observes that one of the blood vessels in his leg has become prominent and shows itself under the skin of an unnatural size. There is, perhaps, no pain as yet, or any other inconvenience, but 1t is not de- sirable symptom to have even one vessel appear in this way. By and by, other veins enlarge in a similar fashion, and even what looks like confused knot of veins appears, particularly just un- der the knee on the inner side. Here they soon assume a threatening size.
 This continues with both the limbs in many cases, in which no breaking ot the skin occurs, but the swollen veins themselves become very painful, caus- ing great distress. In other cases, how ever, the swelling occurs farther down the limb, and ere long the vessels burst, and the blood comes through the skin. creating seriously troublesome sore, Other veins are soon involved, and the suffering becomes dreadful, while the appearance of the wound is of truly alarming character.
 How is all this explained? We must first understand to some extent the na- ture of the vessels which fail to perform their duty in this fashion. The arteries are those tubes through which the fresh blood passes down the limbs and into smaller and smaller vessels, giving of its nourishing qualities to the tissues as it finds its way through them. At the same time the blood gives of this nourishment it receives into its stream particles of substances that have ceased to be life sustaining, and need to be eliminated When the upbuilding work of the arteries has been completed, the small vessels into which they flow be- gin to enlarge and become veins, that is, the vessels that are employed chiefly in carrying the impregnated blood back to the lungs to be refitted for the part as- signed it.
 In other words, tho pure blood Is pumped by the heart through the ar- teries; does scavenger work as it trav- els on it's course, and returns by the veins, to be purified by the lungs (hence the value of deep breathing of sweet, fresh air), before again starting on it's endless-chain circuit. It is when, some- how, the stream which is forcibly sent down in the arteries fails to rise with equal rapidity in the veins, that the latter swell and become so engorged at length as often to burst. The blood fails to return. however, chiefly because the tension of the veins is lessened. In- stead of tight and powerful elastic tubes, they become weak and easily dis tended. It is the cause of this that we wish to particularly investigate. It is found that the person in whose case the evil occurs is compelled to assume | standing position for long periods at a time. The power of the veins is much more severely tested when the blood has to be carried upward than when, in a reclining posture, it has only to pass along level. These veins become fa- tigued, that is, they lose their con- tractile energy and are dilated, so that the stream of blood stagnates as hole, and lodges in those parts of the veins that give way most easily.
 The strong action of the heart and ar teries forces the stream down. when the veins fail to carry 1t upward, and it soon appears in the swollen veins which lie nearest the surface.
 So far the case seems easily intelligible to any ordinary mind that cares to con- slider it al all. But there is another fea- ture in the explanation which is of great importance. The tension of the veins depends upon the nervous energy with which they are supplied by the entire system Fatigue in the body usually : implies more or less fatigue in the veins and nothing will remedy this condition but something which will increase the | nervous energy generally. In applying the necessary treatment for a cure the importance of this becomes obvious. The mere fact of continuing in an upright 1 posture does not account for the enlarg- ! ing of the veins. If thesuppiy of nervous energy was generally sufficient none of the blood vessels would swell as the result of that position. for so long as the nervous energy is adequate the veins show no tendency to relax. The blood is made to rise with as much apparent ease as it goes down the limbs, until there comes from the nerve centers q lessened amount of this same energy
 The fountain of life. at least that sup l plying the limb in which this trouble occurs. is sending forth less than i: needed for the purpose of circulation | in order to maintain perfect health The weary veins show this by failing to send the stream of b,ood onward.
 Now. it is clear that there are severa ed when they fail in this fashion One oi i the worst things which can be Gcue i.
 that course very commonly adopted that is. using what is called an elastic band. This is most expensive thing for thos, affected. who are often far from rich
 and it is worse than useless. It is {
 mere forcing of the swollen veins from
 the surface. by outward pressure. while
 nothing $ done to Tighten their work oi
 to increase their ability to do that work
 An elastic band worn just above tn.