The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-22
exercise and sleep and perturbation of

zzkf e - exercise and sleep and perturbation of mind.
 Until recently science has not been able to add much to that list Nor was 1t able to improve materially the list of principal remedies given by Burton and including
 these items; Prayer medicine, rectifica- tion of diet, good air, travel, exercise and
 ''mirth and merry company
 Art of ProIonglng Life. One of the first indications that seV-
 enth cause of melancholy might be found, although not discovered by Galen, Jean Fernel, Crato or any other ancient au- thority quoted by Burton is given by Dr. Christian Wilhelm Hufeland, German physician, who more than a hundred years ago wrote treatise on the art of
 prolnogs life, calling it 'Maxrobotik." He says in his book that one of the best remedies for a hypochondriac tendency is to rub the abdomen for 15 minutes with the palm of the hand or a woolen rag
 It is now nearly 20 years since Dr. J. H. Kellogg of Battle Creek, Mich, found himself puzzled by the failure of his remedies to work a complete cure in the cases of certain neurasthenic patients
 It took him couple of years to discover the cause and to prove it. Then the rem edy was self-evdent
 Thus 1t happened that when some years ago professor in one of the eastern uni versailles went to Dr. Kellogg with
 complaint that he was growing old at the
 age of 95. and that probably his diet was
 responsible for his premature senility, Dr. Kellogg rejoined:
 'SOmathfnp a iat iQ ba
 with you-look at that waistcoat of yours"
 The professor, taken unawares, looked guiltily downward, although sure tha. nothing was to be seen there that could
 be termed bay window. Instead, he saw
 a number of creases and folds running crossways over the front of the lower part of the waistcoat.
 M Works on Professor. ''Yes that's just it," said Dr. Kellogg, following the glance of his patient. You !. are always bent double whenever you have chance-standing, sitting and even
 in bed. I should think Now lie down on this table and I'll show you what will | happen toayou."
 The professor stretched himself out on | his back upon one of those long-legged
 couches that you see in clinics and doc l tors offices. Then Dr. Kellogg went
 
 and in five minutes the easterner thought ] that he had never felt so happy or eff cient in all his life.
 | His joy was still more increased when | the doctor gave him a belt that looked as if it had two buckles instead of one in front Back of the buckles were l springs, which pushed them against the stomach when the belt was put on. l The inwardness of the trouble as well | as of the cure was explained by Dr. Kel- l logg at the time. He explained it to paany members of his own profession, | too But owing to the belief that no
 man could possibly be at once a Seventh l Day Adventist-which Dr. Kellogg is l and good physician his discovery was l ignored mostly.
 l About a year ago pr. Abrams of San /, Francisco happened in the course of his | investigations upon the same truth which had become evident to Dr. Kellogg ear l Her, and he published book called 'Tho Blues," in which he set forth the direct l connection between a too sombre out 1 look on life, or an unwarrantedly fa- l tigued brain, and congestion of the blood l in the portal vein. And now science nas l taken notice so that the prevalence of the blue color in this world may in the near future cease
 Blood Vessels Combined. The portal vein combines into one ves- l sel several smaller ones coming from the stomach, the pancrea and the gall blad- Eder, and carries the combined flow of
 blood into the liver. It has been called 1 the largest vein in the body, and It's ca l pacity is said to be sufficient when 1 strained to hold at once practically every l drop of blood contained in the system. Cases are on record of persons who have | bled to death although not a drop of blood appeared outside the body. Autop- Al..A l into the portal vein and held there. This vein Is also remarkable because In struc- l ture and many characteristics it has as | much in common with the arteries as
 with veins clearly recognized as such. 1 The flow to and from that vein is regu- l lated by nerve which orders it's contrac- | tion of distentson. It is the assertion
 of Dr. Kellogg and Dr. Abrams that ] constant maintenance of a eramped up ! position, whether in standing or in sit | ting, leads to the weakening of that nerve
 so that itspraeticaly ceases to do service. | with theSresult that the blood is allowed l freely to flow Into the portal vein with | out being properly forced out of it again. The, mischief done is a double one. For | not only are the brain and other out 1 lying parts of the body deprived of their
 proper share of the life giving fluid. but l the action of the liver becomes ham. l pered.
 1 Bad Type of Chair. 1 Among the main factors influencing the l abdominal region in an evil way must
 be mentioned the type of chair now com l monly made and used. Its straight back l and seat parallel with the floor practi- l caflly force the sitter into unwholesome 1 postures. It Is a choice between bend
 ing over forward or reclining on the small | of one's back, with the stomach folded
 up in the corner formed by the back l and seat of the chair
 If an attempt is made to sit up in the | position the body ought to have. the | back below the shoulders is left without | support and fatigue ensues quickly. and | the fatigue again causes the customary | collapsing forward. It is, therefore, a | natural and wholesome instinct which | makes every man throw himself back 1 on his chair with his feet upon table