The Placer Herald

Number Two.
FOOD VS. CLIMATE.
BY MRS. C. F. YOUNG, M. D.
By the law of adaptation, referred to in our last, we learn why oily foods are relished in the winter season, i. e. to be burned in the lungs and arteries. The union of the carbon of our food with the oxygen of the air, evolves heat. When our bodies are warmed by the sun, heated air, until we perspire freely we lose appetite for milk and butter, and fat meats, and frequently fail to relish bread and potatoes. What is the matter? Only this. the vital forces are telegraphing, "we have enough fuel; we cannot consume more without endangering the tissues and vital organs; we are weary with this fire building, and ash-carrying, and ceaseless house-cleaning; if you crowd us, we may not be able to dispose of it, or it may burn too fast." In either case the poor tired body must suffer, i. e. consume with fever or be clogged with 'bile."
What do the people say? "We have a poor appetite; we will eat pickles, or mustard, or take stimulants to excite or give us an appetite?"
Those who do so, are liable to take too much food. Sooner or later fevers will follow. What is a fever? A general disturbance; a rallying of all the vital powers of every organ and fibre of the body, and burn up the extra amount of fuel, i. e. butter, cream, gravies, sugars and rich foods taken under the goad and whip-lash of last week, or last month.
The hygienist, when appetite fails does not excite it by stimulants; but, understands the truth, i. e. that food is not required. The workers have on hand all the aliment they can dispose of. A bath to wash off the salis that have escaped by the pores. A little soap added to the water, or better to the skin, to dissolve the oily particles that, with the dust from our clothing, has obstructed or capped the pores. Pure spring water drank freely in place of food, and between meals, will wash the blood of its acids. It also cools, and soothes the tired stomach and bowels. After a period of rest, varying from one day to three, the blood and mouth cleansed, the appetite sharpened, food is again relished with a zest, unknown to people who stimulate.
Suppose the temperament and vital power of the child, or person, is not equal to the fever; then the food not required to build up the body remains with the wornout material in the blood, or, it is poured out with the scum of the blood, and constitutes diarrhea. or boils appear, or sore throats and canker sores in the mouth. Or. it may be only a bad-strong odor is perceptible in the perspiration, and a bitter, dirty taste in the mouth.
Some people have very strong feet; others have dandruffy heads. That is vicarious action set up at certain points, by which to save vital organs. The mercurial ointments applied to cure, i. e., suppress salt rheum and scald head, has killed its thousands.
"But they were cured—it disappeared."
You mean it was driven in. It was suppressed—left the surface to appear on the lungs or the stomach, and the patient died of pneumonia, or fevers, or consumption
A frail, nervous child, who has not vital power equal to rheums, or scald head, or fever, when the blood is loaded with greasy matter and broken down particles of tissue, will have sore throat and enlarged tonsils.
From the same causes, where the skin is easily chilled, and not very active, and from the habitual use of fine and rich food the bowels are alternating between extremes of looseness, the humors will show in sick stomach, vomiting, or sore throat, or inflammation of the lungs, scarlet rashes. tetter, and spotted fever, death occurring after a struggle of only a few hours between the vital powers and the morbid matter in the blood.
Nature, gentle, loving mother, points to the bath that shall help open the millions of pores, and encourage them to carry off dead matter; to lemonades and sour, ripe, juicy fruits that cool the blood and are grateful to the senses: to clean air from pines and flowers; to quiet rest. Then, when supplies are called for, every fibre of the body cries for strawberries, cherries, oranges and apples, with bread.
If the people will reason, they can learn to live in harmony with the Divine Laws of life. When that blessed hour comes, vigor will be the rule, sickness the exception.