Natural Therapy By SIR LEONARD HILL.
THERE are hill tribes in India which not only afford examples of the finest physique in the world but are free from all those diseases from which the inhabitants of cities commonly suffer—tonsillitis, appendicitis, sinusitis, colitis, and all -those other " itises " or inflammatory states, of organs which ought to be healthy. Cancer, too, is rarely if ever seen among the hill-men. These tribes feed on whole meal, milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables, live in the sunshine and clean, open and bracing air of the mountains, and have abundant hard exercise. Colonel McCarrison, having lived as a medical officer among, and observed the mode of life, of the hill-men, embarked on the experiment of keeping some thousands of tame white rats under similar conditions at a hill station in India. These rats were cared for by. skilled laboratory servants, and kept in huts so clean that not a trace of smell could be detected ; they lived in pure air under excellent climatic conditions, and were given access to sunlight. Their diet was similar to that of the hill tribes. Pairs of these rats were put to breed in cosy cages; no sex problem, no quarrels, no anxiety as to ways and means, troubled them ; but at the end of two years of life, corresponding to about fifty years in men, the rats were painlessly killed, so that disabilities of advancing age did not arise. Among this happy community, there was no sickness ; and no death occurred save from an occasional accident. In the breed- ing cages large litters were raised ; there was no loss of life through pregnancy, and no infant mortality. In contrast, other thousands of rats were kept under similar conditions of cleanliness and comfort, with like exposure to air and sunshine, but fed on a diet such as is common in cities— white bread, margarine made of nut-fat, meat and sugar, a diet deficient in vitamins and those qualities of fresh natural foods which are essential for health and breeding. These animals, as shown by the careful post-mortem examination of over 2,000, suffered from all the inflam- matory conditions from which city people suffer, and had, therefore, to be kept isolated from each other, so that disease should not spread by contact. In the breeding cages of these rats, deaths in pregnancy were common and infant-mortality-was high'. 'The profound effect of a diet of natural feeds—whole meal, milk, eggs, vegetables, and fruit—has been confirmed on other animals by Colonel McCarrison, and by other scientists ; such a diet forms the foundation of these measures of preventive medicine, by which human suffering and loss can be enormously lessened. Six millions a year go to the panel doctors alone, and then there are all hospitals, sanatoria, nurses, druggists to keep up, and the millions wasted on vendors of quack medicines.. - .
There is not only the suffering caused by disease, but the inefficiency and disability, and the millions spent on the maintenance of the sick and disabled. Milk, butter, cheese, eggs, vegetables and fruit can be raised by farmers in this country ; much more of these natural foods should be eaten and much less white bread and cakes made of imported wheat, meat, nut butter margarine and sugar— foods deficient in vitamins. By reforming the diet, we can not only prevent sickness but also restore the prosperity of farmers, and multiply the number of virile peasants who form the backbone of a nation.
Among the great discoveries of preventive medicine is the fact that rickets is a disease due to want of sunlight. A vitamin, necessary for proper growth and to prevent rickets, is produced by irradiation of natural" fats with the shortest wavelengths of those ultra violet rays which reach us in sunlight ; rays which are cut off by smoke pollution of the air in cities. It is the fat in the skin, irradiated by sunlight, which is the natural source of the vitamin ; to secure it, expectant mothers and their babies should, then, receive enough irradiation, either from sun or arc-lamps. As an alternative, foods which contain the vitamin, such as liver oil, must be added to the diet. Rickets not only cripples but also weakens defence against infection, and so greatly 'increases sickness and mortality. The decay of teeth which affects some ninety per cent. of the. British, a national disgrace, is associated with want of the antirachitic vitamin, not only in the infant but also in the expectant mother for the foundation of the teeth in the babe begins previous to birth. A vast amount of sickness and disability now brought about by rickets and decay of teeth, can clearly be prevented by adequate education of the public. As a result, we might save much money now spent in trying to cure and in relief. The habit of taking sun-baths, or artificial sun- baths, should become universal. One or two artificial sun-baths a week suffices, and such baths are much more easily taken and cheaper to provide than water baths. At the London Light and Electrical Clinic, thousands of workers are put through a light bath each week, and the small fee charged by the almoner makes the treatment self-supporting. The sunlight treatment of wounds has proved most successful in the hands of great pioneer surgeons such as Bernhard of St. Moritz ; while Bonier of Leysin, Gauvain of Treloar Hospital, and many others, have shown that this treatment is excellent for debilitated children and those suffering from surgical tuberculosis. The skin is .the great organ of defence against infection, and adequate exposure to sun and air not only keeps it in good condition, but tones up the whole body, so that children, splinted for tubercular joints and confined to bed, are in a good state with firm muscles, keen appetite and happy disposition. The body is kept warm by those oxidative processes which accompany the increased tone of the muscles resulting from exposure of the skin to cool air. The increased combustion of food so produced not only stimulates appetite, but also makes the breathing deeper and the circulation more active ; the digestive Organs, in consequence, work better. Sedentary occupa- tions, amusements in stagnant over-warin atmospheres and neglect of open-air exercise are common causes of loss, of health and happiness. - The lamp of life is thus made to burn weakly. To lessen the ill-effects, work- rooms and offices should be kept ventilated with cool air to the maximal extent which does not produce a feeling of uncomfortable draught. Such places are best warmed by radiation from large panels, placed in the ceiling, or walls, and slightly heated. They should be no warmer than the temperature of the surface of the body. Such panels, by preventing loss of body heat by radiation, allow enough unheated air to be introduced for ample ventilation. The breathing of cool air increases the loss of water by evaporation from the respiratory passages, and this entails more secretion from, and flow of blood and lymph through the membranes of these passages ; such are the natural means of cleansing and keeping away infection. Thewarm, damp and dusty air of crowded, ill-ventilated rooms, polluted as it is with exhaled microbes, spreads " colds " and influenza.
Domestic heating is best obtained by gas fires; if need be, the structure of the house can be kept slightly warm by hot-water coils or electric tubular heaters. The warming of the structure is best done by night so that windows can be opened and fresh air enjoyed on coming down in the morning. Bedroom windows should be kept open, except in fogs, so that clean cool air is breathed by night.
Exercise is potent in keeping the body healthy and vigorous. Insurance offices know that the heavy weights in middle age have too high a mortality, while under- weight is a disadvantage to the young. Walking increases the oxidative processes and heat productiOn of the body even up to five times, and swimming up to fifteen times above the resting rate. Exercise and sea-bathing thus quickly burn off the surplus products which result from over-eating and a sedentary life. A channel swimmer burns away some pounds of body fat, and has to be very well lined with adipose tissue to withstand the prolonged exposure of the attempt. The skin is stimulated by cold baths and, through the cutaneous nerves, the whole body is toned up. Hot baths flush the skin with blood and increase all those subtle changes which the blood under- goes in its passage through the skin. Exercise by massage of stiff joints, and electrical treatment can also be brought into play. For the healthy, a hot bath, fol- lowed by a cold douche each morning, is excellent. This should be followed by physical exercises taken in front of an open window. The exercises should particularly be such as massage the abdominal organs, e.g., bending down to touch the toes, lying on the back and raising the legs over the body. Such actions improve the circulation through the abdominal organs, and particularly the liver, prevent constipation, and open out and ventilate all parts of the lungs. Every part of the body should be moved so that all receive an adequate circulation, and enough oxygen, to keep away stiffness and aches and pains, and preserve youth. It must be borne in mind that exercise very greatly helps the circulation, and prevents stagnation in dependent parts such as results in varicose veins. The valves in the veins are set so as to enable each muscular movement to help in returning blood back to the heart. At schools, then, short periods of sedentary work should alternate with a few minutes active exercise and, just as Moslems are called to prayer, those in sedentary employment should be summoned to rise at eleven and four and take part for a few minutes in physical exercises. If the judge and all the court could run round the quadrangle for a few minutes, how easily would a prolonged sitting be earned on.
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