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Chapter XIII: The Ashes of the System.1831
Chapter XIII: The Ashes of the System.
This will not be a pleasant chapter to those of you who are still bound
with the old notions of the impurity of the body, or any part of it—if
there chance to be such among our students. Those of you who prefer to
ignore the existence of certain important functions of the physical body, and
feel a sense of shame at the thought that certain physical functions are a part
of their everyday lives, will not relish this chapter, and may even regard it as
a blot upon the book—a thing which we should have omitted—something
which we should have ignored. To such we would say that we can see no
use (and much harm) in following the policy of the ostrich in the old tale,
who, dreading his hunters, would stick his head in the sand, and, shutting
the hated things from sight, would ignore their existence until they overtook
and captured him. We have such respect for the entire human body, and all
its parts and functions, that we are unable to see anything impure or “unnice”
about it. And we can see nothing but folly in the policy which refuses
to consider and discuss the functions referred to, or any others. The result of
this conventional policy of dodging the unpleasant subjects, has been that
many of the race are suffering from diseases and ill health brought about
by this folly. To many who read this chapter, what we say will come as a new
revelation—others who are already acquainted with that of which we speak,