Animal heat: how produced.-Exercise.-General instructions relative to exercise.-Disease.-Cause of disease.-Cure of disease.-Medicines: their effect.-Passions.-Secret youthful vices

428. What has been the common theory in relation to the production of animal heat?HBH 198.3

That the production of animal heat was a mere chemical process; the lungs serving as a stove, or fire-place, and the carbonaceous substances of the food serving as fuel, “to be burned in the lungs.” If this were the correct theory, corpulent persons, who are surcharged with carbon, should bear cold better than lean persons, who have but little of it in their bodies; but such is not the fact. Again, the carbonic-acid gas, which is expelled from the lungs, instead of being produced in the lungs is really-a large portion at least-formed in the tissues of the body distant from the lungs.HBH 198.4

429. What would be the fact, if the above theory of animal heat were correct?HBH 199.1

That those eating fat, blubber, oil, etc., would have the greatest amount of heat in their bodies, and hence be the best prepared to resist cold. But the facts in the case are just the reverse: the man who is fully accustomed to a pure vegetable diet, can endure severe cold, or bear the same degree of cold much longer, than the man who is fully accustomed to a flesh diet. In the coldest parts of Russia, the people subsist on coarse vegetable food, and are hardy and vigorous. The same is true of Siberia. Exiles there, accustomed to a vegetable diet, endure the severities of the climate the best.HBH 199.2

430. How is animal heat produced?HBH 199.3

It is probably a vital function, depending immediately on the vital properties and functional powers of the nerves of organic life. Heat is probably not peculiar to any particular part of the system, but is as universal as the distribution of the nerves of organic life and the blood-vessels. The combination of oxygen with carbon in all the tissues of the body is undoubtedly a source of animal heat, in common with all the organic functions and chemical changes which take place in the body. The great regulator to the heat of the body is a healthy skin.HBH 199.4

431. What do you say in general of the use of fire in heating the body?HBH 199.5

Its effect is to relax and debilitate the system, and diminish the power of the body to regulate its own temperature. As far as possible we should let our bodies be warmed by their own vigorous calorific function. Let fire be used only as a necessary evil. Do not expose the body to unequal temperatures at the same time, or to powerful heat on one side, and cold on the other. Let the temperature of your room be mild and equal in every part, ranging from 55 degrees to 70 degrees, according to the health and bodily vigor of the person.HBH 199.6

432. What is requisite to the due regulation of the animal temperature?HBH 200.1

Good digestion, free respiration, vigorous circulation, proper assimilation, and perfect depuration, or in short,-good health.HBH 200.2

433. What further is essential to the proper performance of the organic functions, and the generation of animal heat?HBH 200.3

That the body should be regularly and systematically exercised. The health of the whole body depends on the fluids of the body being kept in constant motion; that the grand vital circulation may be kept up, a proper supply of blood be carried to every part, and the vital changes be accomplished with perfectness. If exercise is neglected, the body will become feeble, and all its physiological powers will be diminished; but if exercise is regularly and properly attended to, the whole system will be invigorated, and fitted for usefulness and enjoyment.HBH 200.4

434. What do you say in relation to proper times of exercise?HBH 200.5

The most severe and active exercise should never be performed on a full stomach, nor immediately before or after a meal. A laboring man who takes his meals at the regular hours we have recommended, and retires and rises at regular and early hours, would do well to exercise moderately an hour or so before breakfast, perform their hardest labor between breakfast and dinner, and work moderately again after dinner. Much evening work is a violation of nature. Persons of sedentary occupations should choose such out-of-door exercises as they can habitually and regularly attend to. Their most active exercise should take place at those times in the day when the stomach is partially empty. Evening exercise is not objectionable for them.HBH 200.6

435. What is essential to secure the full benefit of exercise?HBH 201.1

It is essential that it should be coupled with an object of either utility or amusement. Some useful business pursuit which requires, and hence secures, attention and labor during several hours of the day-according to the strength-is essential to the best sanitary condition of the body. If your exercise is simply walking, don’t go into it with a monotonous drudge, but have some object before you, and let your mind drop the train of thought which has sufficiently taxed it. Walk with some one; walk with cheerfulness, and intersperse it, if strong enough, with running a short race, seeing who can run or pace to a given point the quickest. Four hours of daily labor on the soil is probably the best thing to invigorate the body and mind of those of sedentary habits.HBH 201.2

“Other creatures all day long Rove idle, and unemployed, and less need rest: Man hath his daily work of body or mind Appointed, which declares his dignity, And the regard of Heaven on all his ways; While other animals inactive range, And of their doings God takes no account.”HBH 201.3

436. What is the comparative difference between those who exercise, and those who do not?HBH 202.1

If man takes too little voluntary exercise, he suffers; if his exercise is too excessive, he also suffers. The sufferings of excessive exercise bear no proportion to those resulting from inactivity. A man greatly abbreviates his life by over-toiling, and yet, for the most of his life, may have a cheerful mind, good health, and sweet sleep. But a lack of exercise, connected, as it often is, with excessive alimentation, and other dietetic errors, produces the most intolerable of human miseries. Temperance in this matter, then, will promote health, happiness and length of days.HBH 202.2

437. What is especially essential to the health of children?HBH 202.3

The welfare of the body, especially of children, demands that each part should be duly exercised. Children are instinctively inclined to action, and the symmetrical development of their bodies requires much exercise in the open air. It is unnatural and improper to keep them in a state of confinement or inaction for any considerable time. Girls should be allowed to exercise as freely, in open air, while their bodies are growing, as boys. Avoid rocking young children to keep them quiet, or to get them to sleep. When they begin to notice things, give them plenty of room on the smooth floor, with plenty of playthings, anything with which they will not injure themselves.HBH 202.4

438. What of the exercise of aged people?HBH 202.5

Aged people, after they have retired from the active employments of life, must keep up their regular exercise, or they will soon become feeble and infirm. Walking and horse-back riding are among the best modes of exercise for the aged. They also should connect cheerfulness with their exercise. Exercising the mental, as well as the bodily powers, serves in no small measure to preserve life and enjoyment with the aged.HBH 202.6

9 DIET, OR PROPER FOOD AND DRINK

DISEASE