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Assimilation

Sources: Papers On Health

Is the process whereby the digested food is carried into

the blood stream, and thus conveyed to the different parts of the body

where the hungry cells are in need of it.





Fine threads of blood vessels (capillaries) take it up from the stomach

and intestines. Also along the intestines there are little projections

(villi), through which the food passes into a blood stream leading to

the liver,
here the blood is then purified. These projections also

contain lacteals or little vessels containing blood without its red

corpuscles. A duct carries this colourless blood mixed with absorbed

food to the left side of the neck, where it empties into the blood

stream. These lacteals have a special affinity for the fat of the food.

Most of the rest of the food, including the proteid and the

carbohydrate or starchy portion now in the form of sugar, passes into

the capillaries, and then is led to the liver.



The liver will not let through more sugar than is required, storing it

up for future use. It also acts as a careful guardian, by arresting

many poisons which would otherwise pass into the general circulation.

The liver requires for the proper performance of its functions plenty

of pure blood, hence the necessity for fresh air and exercise, that the

lungs may work well. The liver is easily influenced by alcoholic

beverages, and by getting too hard work to do through eating rich

foods. A consideration of this delicate and intricate process, whereby

the digested food is absorbed, will show that badly-digested food can

not hope to be well assimilated, consequently attention should be paid

to the quantity and quality of the food we eat (see Digestion; Diet).





Whatever thus makes living substance is nourishment; whatever fails to

do so is not. If food be taken, and even digested, without being thus

assimilated, it becomes an injury to a patient instead of a help. In

cases of fever, inflammatory disease, or wasting sores, much rich food

feeds the fire. It is like laying rafters on the roof of a burning

house for purposes of repair. In such a case small quantities of milk,

or milk and hot water (see Digestion), represent the total food which

can be effectively used in the body. We write on this subject that in

treatment our friends may watch not to injure by making the blood too

rich in elements which the system cannot usefully assimilate. Such

foods as oatmeal jelly and wheaten porridge will often furnish more

real nourishment than pounds of bread, beef, and potatoes. A little

careful thought will guide to correct treatment in this matter. An

easily assimilated diet is found in Saltcoats biscuits and hot water;

many inveterate stomach troubles have yielded to this, when taken as

sole diet for some weeks (see Biscuits and Water).



Treatment may also be given for lack of assimilative power. The back,

especially on either side of the spine, is rubbed with gentle pressure

and hot olive oil. This pressure is so applied that a genial heat

arises along the whole spinal column. This done twice a day, for

half-an-hour at a time, and continued for several weeks, will markedly

restore assimilative power. Cases which have been perfectly helpless

for eight and even ten years are cured by this simple method,

sufficiently and carefully followed.



We had a patient who was stout, but weak and weary, with the muscles

slack and showing loss of power. The effect of back-rubbing,

accompanied by easily assimilated food in small quantities and often,

was to lessen his weight by a considerable amount. But the muscular

power at once began to increase, and the man was soon like one made

anew. Digestion had not been impaired in this case, but the blood

formed by it was not converted into good living substance. Sight and

hearing have even been restored by these means when the failure in eye

or ear has been due to waste material accumulating, as frequently is

the case.



In connection with many troubles, what may be called local

assimilation has to be considered. A foot, say, with a bad abscess or

diseased bone (see Pain, Severe) is cured by hot bathing and

pressure. From a shrunken and feeble limb, the leg grows to a healthy

and strong one. This occurs because the heat and pressure have so

stimulated its vitality that the material supplied by the blood can be

utilised in the leg for purposes of healthy growth. So with any other

part of the body. Such diet as we have indicated supplies easily

assimilated substance. The local heating, pressure, and bathing enable

this substance to be utilised where it is needed. A little careful

thought on this line will guide to proper treatment of almost any case

where assimilation has failed, either locally or generally, and will

lead the way to a method of cure.





Asthma exists in various forms, having equally various causes. One of

these causes, giving rise to a comparatively simple form of the

disease, is cramp of the ring-muscle of the windpipe, so contracting

the windpipe that breathing is rendered difficult. A "wheeze" is heard

in breathing, though there is no bronchitis or lung trouble present.

The cause of this cramp is an irritation of the ring-muscle's nerve. It

can be relieved by pressing cold cloths gently along the spine, from

the back of the head to between the shoulders, taking care that the

patient remains generally warm during the treatment, and attending to

the feet and skin as directed below in this article. Sometimes the

cause seems to lie in the air of the place where the sufferer resides.

A change either to high ground or the seaside will often entirely

remove asthma, especially in the young. In any such case a trial should

be made of several places, if that be at all possible, and that place

fixed upon where the asthma is least felt. At SEAMILL SANATORIUM

(see) many asthmatic persons have found complete freedom from their

trouble from the day of their arrival, and the treatment given has made

this cure permanent.



Another cause of asthma is lack of power in the breathing muscles. In

such a case the patient clings to a particular attitude, in which

alone he can breathe. This is in most cases due to a lack of vitality

in the root nerve which supply the breathing muscles.



An attack of this may often be relieved by rubbing, with the points of

the fingers chiefly, gently yet firmly up and down each side of the

spine, close to the bone. Even rubbing above the clothing will

frequently relieve. The roots of the nerves supplying power to the

breathing muscles lie just on each side of the spine, and this kind of

rubbing stimulates these roots. It is not rubbing of the skin or

backbone which is wanted, but such gentle treatment of the nerve roots

on either side of the bone as makes them glow with genial warmth. This

rubbing is of course better done on the surface of the skin. See that

the patient is warm, then dip the fingers in cold water, and rub as

directed. When the water makes the patient feel chilly or he tires of

it, use fresh olive oil, warmed if necessary. Avoid all alcoholic

drinks, which simply rob the nerves of the very power needed for cure.

Temporary relief may be given by such drinks, but it is at the expense

of lowered life and reduced chances of recovery.



A tablespoonful of hot water every five minutes is the best curative

drink. It may be given for several hours if required. To give this

rubbing treatment and drinking hot water fair play, however, attention

must be paid most carefully to the feet and skin of the patient.

The feet frequently are cold, and in bad cases swell, the skin at and

above the swelling being pale and soft. In minor cases this state of

the feet may be treated by rubbing with hot olive oil. In serious cases

rubbing is to be alternated with bathing the feet in hot water, until

the feet and limbs glow with heat. This may be done two or three times

a day, for half an hour, or even an hour. It increases very greatly the

vital power for breathing.



Again, the skin in bad cases of asthma becomes dry, hard, and a light

brown substance forms on its surface. If the skin thus fails, severe

work is thrown on the already overloaded lungs, and the breathing is

much worse. Give the patient a night's pack in the SOAPY BLANKET

(see). If there is not strength to stand the entire treatment, keep

in the blanket pack for a shorter time--one, two, or three hours. Not

more than two nights of this treatment should be needed at a time. The

soapy blanket greatly stimulates the skin, and opens all the closed

pores, immensely relieving the lungs. If feet, skin, and back be

treated as we have advised, even a very obstinate case of asthma should

be cured. See Appendix; Bathing the Feet; Rubbing; Soap; Soapy

Blanket.



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