£*•

320 ESOTERIC ANTHROPOLOGY.
we act chiefly upon the surface of the body. This
surface comprises about fifteen square feet. It contains
millions of sudoriferous or sweat-making glands, and a
vast number of sebacious or oil secreting. It contains
an immense capillary reticulation, and a wonderful ex
pansion of nerves, both organic and sensational. In
acting upon the skin, we have the means of influencing
the whole system as we can in no other manner. We
can weaken or strengthen, enliven or depress, bring
the blood to the surface or drive it back upon the vis
cera. [See Appendix.]
By exciting the action of the skin, we rapidly free
the system of its impurities, and relieve, rest, and in
vigorate the internal organs. An oppression of the
lungs is relieved almost instantly by opening the pores,
and increasing the action of the skin; a diarrhoea is
quickly cured by making the skin throw off the matter
which is coming from the mucous membrane. Pro
fuse expectorations from chronic bronchitis are rapidly
diminished in this way, and attacks of asthma relieved
and cured.
The changes of nutrition, waste, and excretion are
so much quickened in water-cure, that Liebig, who
examined it carefully at Graefenburg, says
in a letter
to Sir Charles Scudamore, that as great a change is
often effected in six weeks as would be accomplished in
three years without it. The sytem is therefore freed
from its old diseased matter, and built up with new
materials with wonderful rapidity. It is rather impor
tant, then, that the new matter of nutrition should be
of the purest quality.
The quantity and quality of morbid matter thrown