PHYSICAL EXERCISES

By Callie M. Davis, N.D., Oph.D.

"Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?"

"If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are."

When I say that everything entrusted to us receives more careful attention than we give our own bodies, T believe T state a provable proposition.

The home is cleaned, swept and dusted. The sewing machine is carefully oiled and kept free from becoming clogged if we want the greatest efficiency.

Our automobile is freed from carbon as soon as it comes in from a long trip; ere it again goes forth every grease cup is inspected, every nut and bolt adjusted, the exterior is carefully polished.

How much thought do we give to our own bodies under such circumstances-those bodies made in the image of God ?

We read and heed the most minute directions for the care of the machine because repairs cost money. What about the body? Days of suffering, time spent in bed, pain endured, do these count for naught?

The purest gas is bought, even though the cost is more. The machine must not be clogged or there is loss of power. The thick, the thin and the medium oils are bought. Do we think as much about what is good for those that sit at our table?

If the furnace smokes, do we continue to pile in fuel ?

Photo of Callie M. Davis, N. D., Oph. D.

A thinking person will take down the pipe, clean out the chimney, clear the flues, remove the ashes; then the fuel is a necessity. Why not give the same thoughtful attention to our own bodies?

To be free from pain, to greet each succeeding morning with exultation, to feel like folding beautiful nature in your arms and rejoicing in her many charms is a life worth living.

Can the human machine be kept up to its best all the time? Just try it and see for yourself.

This book teaches you how to keep the system free from carbon-dioxide by breathing the pure air of heaven that surrounds you and costs nothing if you will but open the lung cells and let it enter. We would consider this easy if it was all we had to do to remove the carbon from the machine.

It teaches what to eat, when to eat and when not to eat. This wonderful harp of a thousand strings, tuned by an All Wise Creator, that vibrates to the slightest touch that plays upon it, capable of such harmony in all its parts, so sensitive to the least friction, in all so fearfully and wonderfully made, is worthy of our kindest consideration.

Every page of this book is replete with suggestions, by one who has devoted an entire life to the study of the human system, how to keep it in health, how to restore normal conditions when there is lack of harmony.

It is worthwhile to read and heed these suggestions given from a heart full of love for his fellow man and a desire to help all enjoy the blessings that come from a body free from pain and in perfect adjustment in all its parts.

I know whereof I speak when I say by proper thought and action the human machine can be kept subject to the will and obedient to demands of an active, useful life. No other life is worth living.

On awakening let the heart overflow with gratitude for the many mercies enjoyed at all times. Yawn a number of times, stretch in every direction, thinking pleasant thoughts the meanwhile. Without bending the knees, raise the feet in the air, letting them approach the head as nearly as possible, till, finally, they may be raised above the head and touch the bed. Reverse and let the head approach the feet. These exercises should be continued some minutes.

Rise leisurely, go to the bathroom. If sufficient thought has been given to the proper functioning of the body there will be a call of nature, which should always receive prompt attention.

Cleanse the teeth thoroughly, gargle the throat a number of times with salt water, snuff salt water up the nostrils also a number of times and blow it out with some force.

1. With window open, arise to the tips of the toes, arms above the head, taking long deep breaths, tense the fingers as intensely as possible, relax and return to the standing position, exhaling meanwhile. Do this some twenty times or more.

2. Kick at the wall alternately with each foot, lifting them as high as possible.

3. Take the squatting exercise by approaching the floor, arising without touching any support of any kind. Take all these exercises some twenty times or more according to the invigorating sensation produced.

4. Sway the body from side to side, letting the hand press with some force from waist line to the knee. This keeps down the hips and gives a suppleness to the waist.

5. With feet firmly planted together, hands at waist line, sway the body, looking squarely behind you in either direction.

6. With arms extended whirl about, feet firmly on the floor, the body approaching as nearly a reverse as possible.

7. Tis said, and I believe it, to keep young, keep the feet young. This is the best exercise for this purpose that I have ever tried. Pass the foot over and touch the floor across the opposite foot, some twenty times or more, doing this quite rapidly, then reverse.

8. Standing on one foot, extend the other and give a pawing motion; then relax the uplifted foot, shake it vigorously. Reverse this exercise.

9. Standing, sway each foot towards the knee of the opposite leg rapidly some twenty times or more, then reverse.

10. Standing still, take a number of running steps, carrying the chest well up and breathing through the nostrils. Never continue any of these exercises to the point of exhaustion. The more they are indulged in, however, the more will they be enjoyed.

11. Jump, as in skipping the rope, some twenty times or more.

12. Flat footed, with knees stiff, sway the body towards the floor, spat the spine while so doing; beginning low down, continue the spatting all the way up, if possible. Now let the hands sway towards and touch the floor. Sway the body from side to side, touching the floor in all directions. This exercise will break up a cold more quickly than anything of which I know. Let the nose approach the knees until they touch.

When once practiced till they become second nature, these exercises can all be taken in from fifteen to twenty minutes. The same amount of time given to some work we love to do, would not be considered any time at all. All work will become pleasure if the body is prepared to do it without fatigue.

Lay aside the bath robe, bathe the face, neck, eyes and ears in a bowl of salt water, a generous handful of salt to the bowl of water. Let the water be cold. Wet a bath towel now and go all over the body, placing the feet in the bowl and wash thoroughly. Dry briskly with force. A glow of warmth and satisfaction succeeds that cannot be obtained in any other way.

Now dress with the assurance that you are to have a happy day, ready for all the demands of a busy life.

Be assured that those who labor hardest, need these exercises fully as much as those of sedentary habits. It is not enough that one set of muscles be called into action, all must be used to expel the waste, that produces fatigue, from the system.

While exercising vigorously, never allow the breath to escape from the mouth in an explosive manner. Hold it for a little and exhale slowly through the nostrils.

No reasonable amount of care is too much for this highly organized body of ours.

NERVE WASTE

Callie M. Davis, N. D., Oph. D.

In order to explain nerve waste, take the substance of the nerve itself. That substance is what we call Neuroglia, or the brain substance, consisting of the white and gray matter, the pia mater, dura mater and the axis cylinder. This substance passes through the entire organism of the body. This is the media through which the mind permeates the body, to every tissue, and this mental substance is what Hudson calls "Sub-conscious mind." That Sub-conscious mind, as we understand it, is the thought that was implanted in man at the creation. It controls the individual absolutely, whether awake or asleep. It is, in common with all other minds, in communication with everything that has ever existed from the time of creation to the present time. It pervades all space. It is the Deity itself; that Individual or Being we call Deity permeates or inhabits the entire organism; controls every molecule; directs every atomic cell; builds up all the tissues; chemically changes every element, and superintends the entire body of all individuals on earth; and ever has controlled them, so far as vitality is concerned. Independent of all this, having been created in the image of the Almighty, and having the privilege of being even a God, he has gone from his original Creator and controlled himself, so far as his actions are concerned. He has gone away from the Divine power, gone into forbidden paths, and has received the influence of unholy environments until he has become contaminated with that condition called disease, or pain, the result of violated law.

The physical organism requires force. This force is of two kinds, Positive and negative. They are supplied by the food eaten, the air breathed, and the water drank. All of the substance derived from these sources constitute the elements of the body. These elements are distributed in such a manner as to control and make up every organ in the body, the nervous system as well; and if there be a deficiency in the composition of the nervous system, there is a deficiency in the action of the mentality to that part of the body, and to the entire body, if the entire nervous system is involved. The functioning of any organ in the body is through the nervous system. If the nervous system which ends in any organ be over-exercised, the elements become exhausted to that extent, and the function becomes deranged; and if continued, the entire system sympathizes with that particular organ, and an equalization of strength is manifested throughout the body.

Instance, the eye: The eye is supplied by the second cranial nerve, which functions the sense of sight. It is also supplied by the third cranial, by the sixth cranial, and by the third branch of the fifth cranial nerve; making four and one-third cranial nerves in and around the eye, that supply the eye in functioning vision. The second nerve forms the retina; the three and one-third nerves control the action of the ciliary muscles, and all motion, sensation and sympathy. Over-use of the eye increases the activity of the nerves ending in it, or the muscles in, or surrounding the eye - the internal muscles being called the Intrinsic, and the external muscles the Extrinsic. The over-use of the eye in functioning vision produces exhaustion of the nervous system ending therein, to that extent, we have deficiency of action, and hence a strained condition of the eye; the Extrinsic muscles being controlled by the third, fourth, sixth and the third branch of the fifth cranial nerves, are the muscles which bring into position and juxtaposition the object seen, from which object rays of light are reflected to the retina; so that without action of the extrinsic muscles we would not have convergence, nor sight, nor be able to change the vision from one object to another. Hence the importance of looking after, and caring for the nervous system that ends in the extrinsic muscles. Over-exercise of the intrinsic muscles produces exhaustion. With the intrinsic muscles we accommodate vision at all distances, when there is light reflected from objects to the retina. The size of the pupil is controlled by the nervous system ending in the Musculus Iridis, whether we have convexity or a flattened condition of the lens. These are the results of muscular action through the cilary nervous system. Hence the exhaustion of the substance of the nerve, or the nervous system, caused by excessive use, produces disparity in their function, and affects the entire organism, in proportion thereto. The necessity of knowing this is apparent to the observer, from the fact that we have all kinds of diseases from muscular asthenopia, or nerve exhaustion; conjunctivitis, iritis, staphyloma, ulceration, loss of sight, retinitis; and all other diseases that affect the eye, or the body, the result of interference with the nervous system ending in the eyes; causing irritation, resulting in congestion, hyperemia, inflammation, suppuration and blindness, many times.

All of these conditions being the product of impeded venous circulation, irritation of the nervous system can be relieved by proper manipulation, arrest of the nerve waste; supplying the deficiency by the proper food and exercise, and the circulation of the fluids of the body normally, and prescribing suitable lenses to arrest the nerve strain, from over-use of the eyes in functioning vision.

How to Prescribe Glasses for Nerve Exhaustion.

That condition denominated Hyperopia, is a condition in which the sight is better for seeing distant than near objects, a condition in which the object has to be moved
away from the eyes to see clearly.

This condition is due to flattening of the eye-ball antero-posteriorly. It requires increased nerve power to control the muscles of accommodation so as to be able to see clearly. This additional power is what exhausts the nervous system, because it requires more fuel, more nerve stimuli, and, in time, the whole nervous system becomes exhausted, and disease of some one or more organs ensues. The nervous system is composed of "tissue elements," and over-use exhausts these elements, which renders the entire nervous system less capable of performing its function, and the longer the nerve strain continues, the greater the exhaustion, hence the less strength in the body to perform its normal function, throughout the entire body, therefore disease may result in any organ in the body.

To remedy this condition, the strain must be arrested. As long as the eyes are used, the strain continues. The results may be manifest anywhere, in any organ, because, to have the body normally functioned, a certain amount of nerve power must be maintained; hence the "leakage" must be stopped, and the best way to stop the leakage is to stop the strain, through the use of the glasses which correct the vision, bringing it back to a normal, or what is denominated an Emmetropic state - natural vision. The correction (the glass) which brings the vision to see a letter that the Emmetropic can see, twenty feet distant, distinctly, will stop the strain.

If one sees the type - "Snellen's" - which should be seen twenty feet, at a distance of fifteen feet, it is evidence that glasses are needed, simply because it requires an extra effort to see so clearly, and this means a requisition of more nerve power, hence a strained condition of the eyes.

For every Diopter of vision, required to bring the vision to see 20-20ths, there is a loss of twenty-three per cent of nerve power, and that means that the system is losing that much nerve power, hence is weakening every day this condition is allowed to remain, and in this ratio one is becoming weaker; this indicates the necessity of wearing glasses which correct this condition of the vision, before one can expect to be brought back to health.

With the proper correction, when this condition is ascertained, it will be an agreeable astonishment to the individual how great a change for the better will take place. This change will begin at once, any disease caused by said nerve exhaustion will soon begin to subside, and the patient will get well of the disease caused thereby. See an Ophthalmologist and have such eyes corrected at once, is the reasonable thing to do.