The movement-cure in every chronic disease : a summary of its principles, processes and results / by Geo. H. Taylor.

  • George H. Taylor
Date:
1861
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The movement-cure in every chronic disease : a summary of its principles, processes and results / by Geo. H. Taylor. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    pain is a natural consequence. In this condition vitality plainly loses some portion of its control over the mass of substance of which the system is composed. It follows that the non-vitalized materials which form a prominent part of this mass, are disposed to obey the laws of crude chemistry; and inflammations, congestions, or other dis- turbances of various kinds follow or are perpetuated. The reader will now be able to understand what is the real condition of the system when it is near to an attack of acute disease; as, also, when chronic disease is present. He will also see upon what the removability of disease mainly depends—namely, functional action. The local characteristics, which generally only afford a name for that which exists by virtue of the state of the whole system, are of far less importance than has often been supposed. In fact, the local manifes- tation, whatever that may be, can scarcely meet with cure while the morbid state of the system at large is continued, for the latter alone renders such local manifestation possible. Since then, all functions are intimately associated with movements of the physical organs, it is clear that in them we have the means of controlling disease and restoring health. Hence it appears, that Exercise is by far the most important of the different branches of Hygiene, because it controls the others. It not only determines the amount of food and oxygen required by the sys- tem, but is absolutely necessary in the disposition there made of them. A man may be poisoned under a selected and even restricted dietary if the food taken be not duly disposed of, and we have all seen what dietetic outrages the hard worker may commit, with apparent im- punity, because that which would otherwise prove noxious, is speedily eliminated under the energetic respiration and functional activity eecured by exercise. THE MOVEMENT-CURE. But, powerful for the promotion of the above ends as exercise or bodily movements confessedly are, their beneficial effects for tho
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