The biological healing system, based on the laws of nature and the
acknowledgment of the fact that no two cases of disease are exactly
alike, requires much broader knowledge and much deeper insight on the
part of the physician than did the old-school of medicine with its
search for symptoms of special diseases and its occult prescriptions.
Since the object is to get at the root of the evil in order to
regenerate the patient thoroughly, it becomes imperative to obtain, what
is hardest to elicit from him perhaps, the accurate truth about himself
and his ailment.
And though expert in recognizing external symptoms, it is unwise to rely
entirely thereon and research must continue into realms where the
patient himself only can lead us and where, willing or otherwise, he is
apt to mislead.
Psychology teaches how to find the way into the darkness of a patient's
soul. Physiognomy teaches, not only to read in the face and external
appearance, the story of a life which is written there in characters
which only experience may decipher, but also to realize when the patient
employs physiognomical expressions to hide what we persistently seek;
namely, the truth.
And again, in regard to healing, psychology teaches how to influence the
patient so that he may discontinue to be his own worst enemy; that he
may recognize his mistakes as such and discard them, although possibly
he may have grown so addicted to his tastes as to prefer to continue
therein in place of daring to be healthy.
In the plan of production of a regenerated and healthy humanity, every
individual of this kind must be regarded as a foe who interferes with
the prevention of disease both now and in futurity. To win such an one
over, to make him an enthusiastic believer in the theory that health is
a necessity, and, a task less easy, to prevent his relapse into his
previous degenerate manner of life and health,--this is another branch
of science for which psychology and physiognomy are more needful than
anything else.
Here again it is the true physician's principle to enlighten the layman,
and not to surround his methods with a mysterious, but imposing wall of
secrecy.
We do not hesitate to reveal the main points of our system of diagnosis,
which is much broader than the old system of scholastic medicine,--the
performance with auscultation, percussion, X rays and the rest. Certain
knowledge of these things will lead every one, ere long, to submit all
disturbances of health to the hygienic physician while prevention is
still probable and possible, instead of waiting until disease has taken
firm hold. It will also enable men to realize that the old-school
practitioner who pronounces them sound while they feel for themselves
that there is something wrong within has yet "a something" left to
learn.
The realm of psychology, however, is beyond the scope of my present
endeavour, save in so far as it may serve to show that we are fortified
with this particular knowledge, and to the end that this book may
constitute a help to the aspiring hygienic-dietetic physician, calling
his attention to the necessity of acquiring as profound a knowledge of
psychology as may be.
I will confine myself at present, therefore, to the external symptoms
which must be observed, though they are not generally considered as
symptoms of disease; and yet they indicate disease or the disposition
thereto, individual or hereditary, as the case may be.
I shall consequently deal with the peculiarities of hands and feet,
nails and hair, eyes and ears, nose and teeth, mouth, forehead, tongue,
chin, cheeks, neck, chest, abdomen, legs, and general constitution.
Nature has endowed us with strong discriminating faculties against
certain external indications of disease. We experience a pleasant
feeling when the hand is pressed by another hand that is warm and dry,
but we shrink from the hand that is cold and moist and clammy.
Perspiring hands and feet are a sure indication that some process of
degeneration is going on within the body, the production of diseased
cells being in excess of what the body, under normal conditions, is able
to excrete, and therefore they seek unusual channels of leaving the
body, that is, through the skin and mucous membranes.
Perspiring feet are a symptom of disposition to colds and possibly
tuberculosis, while perspiring hands indicate certain nervous diseases
and disposition to gout; constantly cold hands and feet are usually
found in people who suffer from scrofulosis or anaemia.
In many cases the quality of _nails_ leads to the conclusion that there
is a thorough disturbance of the process of nutrition. If they are
fragile and brittle, there is no question but that there is lack of
certain nutritive salts in the blood. Swollen and deformed nails
indicate special disturbances in circulation, chronic heart and lung
diseases.
_Hair_, or rather the absence of hair, especially in early life, is
sometimes another indication of faulty nutrition.
Baldness or premature gray hair is usually a pathological indication, as
is also the dishevelled hair of nervous people and children suffering
from scrofulosis, while rich, glossy hair is always a sign of good
health.
The development of the hair depends upon the activity of the skin, the
nerves and the composition of the blood. The blood of dark-haired people
is lacking in water and fat, but richer in albuminous matter. Poor
quality of hair is indicative of living in bad air, poor nutrition of
the skin, hard mental work, pain and sorrow. Sexual excesses during
youth are often the cause of premature baldness and thin hair.
The _eyes_ present a picture that manifests the general condition of the
body, whether it be healthy, disposed to disease, or suffering from
disease.
Protruding eyes are the sure symptom of the disease known as Basedow's
disease; they indicate also short-sightedness, and hereditary epilepsy.
The condition of the mucous membranes of the eyes permits certain
conclusions as to the genital organs.
If the eyes are abnormally small, we draw the conclusion that there is
general weakness and deficiency in nutrition. They indicate retarded
development, which may be seated in the central nervous system. The eyes
usually recede during severe diseases. A hyperaemic condition of the
eyelids, with or without inflammation, is always a symptom of a dysaemic
condition of the entire system (scrofulosis). In some cases of
scrofulosis there is not another visible sign on the entire body, and
yet the eyelids and eyelashes, which sticks together most of the time,
tell the story of an inherited condition of dysaemia.
A yellowish hue of the eyes indicates disease of the liver.
The color of the iris does not indicate much in itself, although the
theory of Liljequist, which deserves some attention, claims that if a
person deteriorates in health, the eyes, if originally light blue,
darken more and more and finally change into brown or the color of the
hybrid race. Liljequist's scale of healthy eyes reads: Light blue,
medium blue, dark blue; then light, medium and dark brown. However,
brown eyes do not represent sickness; they but indicate nervousness and
sensibility.
According to Liljequist, individuals belong to the hybrid race when they
are born of parents one of whom has blue eyes and the other brown eyes.
The weaker race transmits the brown colour of its iris to the middle
part of the iris of the child, while the colour of the stronger race
reappears in the outer part of the iris; not, however, as pure blue, but
tinted with a delicate shade of green, in consequence of the light
brownish-yellowish colour which emanates from the central part.
When death is imminent, the iris displays a grayish-black, muddy gray or
muddy brown colour.
The pupil of the eye is irritated in cases of nervous disease and
indicates this condition. In cases where only one pupil is dilated, a
local disease of the optic nerve or one side of the brain is evident. If
the pupils are insensible to external irritations and remain rigid, the
conclusion is that the brain or the spinal cord is badly affected.
It may be stated in a general way that clear, brilliant eyes, (when not
caused by fever) are usually an indication of the good quality of the
blood as well as of all other humours of the body, together with normal
activity of all the central organs.
The _mouth_ and _tongue_: Pathological indications manifested by the
mouth are principally displayed by the lips, which are clear red in
healthy people, while a hectic red indicates fever and pulmonary
disease. Pale lips indicate anaemia and chlorosis, and lips of a bluish
hue are signs of a generally weakened organism. Frequent, vivid
contractions of the lips (usually thin in this case) indicate great
nervousness.
The color of the mucous membrane of the tongue is a very fair indication
of health or sickness. If a person is in health, the tongue is rosy and
not coated. But any disturbance in the intestines causes a more or less
coated tongue, and consequently shows the detrimental influence these
particular ailments exert upon the brain and nerves. Hence, a coated
tongue affords a valuable indication in making a correct diagnosis,
especially in case of chronic catarrh of the stomach, this being one of
the main causes of depression, and melancholia, as stated by Piderit.
The _forehead_, or rather the record traced thereon, in lines of
nature's unimpeachable calligraphy, warrants certain conclusions as to
mentality and character; and these may be important in determining the
truthfulness of the patient's stories of suffering and other items which
facilitate or impede a correct diagnosis.
The interpretation of such features, however, belongs to the realm of
pure psychology, this is also true of similar conclusions drawn from the
outlines of the chin.
Of much more importance for the purpose of diagnosis is the _nose_.
Even a child understands what the red nose of the habitual drunkard
signifies. A bloated nose with a tendency to become sore is an
indication of a disposition to scrofulosis.
Other indications of disease are displayed to the experienced physician
by the condition of the nose.
The _nose_ is one of the most typical of the human organs; it is also in
the closest connection with the entire system with its groups of
organs--the brain, intestines, breast and even the sexual organs.
The infinite variety of nasal formation has attracted the intense
interest of the physiognomist to this organ.
The most important function of the nose lies in its action as a
respiratory organ. Bad habits or faulty construction which prevent it
from serving in this capacity, lead to much suffering and disease, and
it is always important to determine whether the channels of the nose are
clear and open and efficiently serve their purposes.
The function of the nose as an olfactory organ must also rank highly in
its importance. In this case, however, the nose of the physician plays
the important part; not the nose of the patient. In fact, most of the
famous authorities, among them Professor Jaeger of Stuttgart, Dr. Heim
of Berlin and Dr. Lahmann of Dresden, have made very valuable
discoveries in this respect.
Dr. Heim has found methods of determining the nature of certain acute
diseases from the odour emitted from the person.
Dr. Lahmann distinguishes the hypochondriacal, the melancholic and the
hysteric odours, which, as he says, are most characteristic.
The same applies to the odour of diabetics and other people who suffer
from disturbances of digestion, and patients who suffer from cancer and
other diseases involving a process of putrefaction.
The fact that most patients diffuse unpleasant odours is of the greatest
importance to married people, as it easily produces antipathy, and
especially in the case of chronic diseases, is frequently made the basis
of separation and divorce.
Were this defect known to be but the symptom of a curable disease, the
husband or wife would probably prefer to consult the hygienic physician
rather than the lawyer. Knowledge in such case would mean the
preservation of domestic happiness.
_The teeth_: The parents of a young man once complained to me that their
son had been rejected as a cadet at West Point upon physical
examination, because two of his teeth were filled.
The authorities are certainly justified in their decision.
The lack of perfect teeth indicates faulty digestion. Usually the teeth
are ruined during youth because children breathe through the mouth
instead of through the nose,--either on account of the physical
condition of the nose or because the tonsils are enlarged.
The lack of sufficient nutritive salts in the diet is often revealed by
the condition of the teeth.
From a physiological standpoint the teeth are no less important than the
brain, the eyes and the hair; and the conclusion that perfect eyes, hair
and teeth indicate a perfect brain is absolutely justified, while the
lack of perfection in these organs shows internal deficiencies long
before they appear in external manifestation in the form of disease.
Since healthy blood is the basic condition of healthy teeth, the fact
that people have clean white teeth, set in regular line, indicates the
existence of healthy blood. On the other hand, a bad composition of the
blood is manifested by short, irregularly set, yellowish teeth.
The teeth of healthy people are always somewhat moist, dry teeth are
accordingly a bad sign.
The only advantage of yellowish teeth rests in the fact that their
dentine is, as a rule, stronger. Extremely bluish white teeth often
consist of a soft, porous and tender dentine.
Faulty structure of the teeth indicates weak bones in general.
Crippled teeth and the late appearance of teeth in infants,--that is,
not before the ninth month,--are symptoms of rachitis. Healthy children
have their teeth between the fifth and seventh months.
The teeth of diabetics become loose without any formation of tartar, (an
incrustation of phosphate of lime and saliva).
Extremely yellow teeth indicate jaundice, while reddish teeth show
hyperaemia of the dentine. Carious teeth are a result of disturbed
circulation.
The gums are also very indicative of disease. If they are of a pale pink
colour, they indicate anaemia or chlorosis; if bluish red on the edge,
they indicate tuberculosis.
Some of the most striking indications of existing disease are
demonstrated by the _neck_. By feeling the neck and carefully watching
its external appearance, the experienced scientist will obtain much
valuable information that will aid in his diagnosis, and give him
additional knowledge as to the processes going on within the body of the
patient.
The significance of the formation of the _thorax_ (_chest_) is well
known, even to many laymen. Flat chest, so-called chicken chest,
indicates imperfect development of the lungs, and when extreme, even
tuberculosis.
A flabby abdomen indicates disposition to hernia and stagnation of the
blood, frequently causing hemorrhoids or inflammation of the prostate
gland in men, and all kinds of diseases--inflammatory or catarrhal--in
women.
As to the _legs_, the so-called varicose veins are indications of weak
blood-vessels and intestinal hemorrhage, while inflamed nerves lead to
the conclusion of gouty diathesis and the danger of paralytic strokes.
The _skin_ usually affords more indications that aid in forming a
correct diagnosis than is usually recognized.
If examination were made of the excreta through the pores of an
individual during 24 hours, some conclusion might be definitely arrived
at as to any germs of disease present in the body and in course of
expulsion in this way.
All bacteria incident to detrimental processes proceeding within the
human organism, are to be found in the perspiration.
Freckles indicate a certain predisposition inherent in the blood, while
some forms of eczema point to the conclusion that there are diseased
processes in action within the body.
It is most important under this system to determine the chemical
condition of the body in each individual case.
Acids or alkalines prevail. If the former, patients have bad teeth, a
disposition to gout, diabetes and cancer. The normal condition is the
predominance of alkalines.
In such cases as the former, physiological chemistry will point to the
counterbalancing of the acids to establish a correct composition of the
blood, and thus to prevent the impending danger. The biological system
of health which is rapidly taking the place of all others, is equipped
with so searching a knowledge of the human organism that no disease, be
it ever so adroitly concealed, can escape its minute attention; not
excepting even the disposition to disease.
The old adage is still true that "prevention is better than cure" and
the intelligent person will probably recognize the wisdom of so safe and
sane a course and endeavor to prevent the evils to which he may be
exposed. Thus, for his own satisfaction, if he be wise he will adopt
these two simple precautions:
(1) Examination by an accredited hygienic-dietetic physician.
(2) Regulation of his mode of living in accordance with the course
prescribed.
The words of the famous Moleschott ring true today, more than in the
past, when he said: "One of the principal questions a patient should ask
his physician is, how to make good, healthy blood." Experience shows
that there is but one method to attain good blood,--that _priceless
factor_ upon which our _thinking_, our _feeling_, our _power_ and our
_progeny depend_, and that is by means of _correct food and nutrition_.