112 OCCULT PRINCIPLES OF HEALTH & HEALING
stages of infancy, childhood, youth, manhood or
womanhood, old age, and at last comes to the change
that is called death.
Each of these stages is characterized by an
increasing degree of hardness and solidity. There is a
gradual increase in density and firmness of the bones,
tendons, cartilages, ligaments, tissues, membranes, the
coverings and even the very substance of the stomach,
liver, lungs, and other organs. The joints become rigid
and dry. They begin to crack and grate when they are
moved, because the synovial fluid, which oils and
softens them, is diminished in quantity and rendered
too thick and glutinous to serve that purpose.
The heart, the brain, and the entire muscular
system, spinal cord, nerves, eyes, etc., partake of the
same consolidating process, growing more and more
rigid. Millions upon millions of the minute capillary
vessels which ramify and spread like the branches of a
tree throughout the entire body, gradually choke up
and change into solid fiber, no longer pervious to the
blood.
The larger blood vessels, both arteries and veins,
indurate, lose their elasticity, grow smaller, and
become incapable of carrying the required amount of
blood. The fluids of the body thicken and become
putrid, loaded with earthy matter. The skin withers and
grows wrinkled and dry. The hair falls out for lack of
oil. The teeth decay and drop out for lack of gelatine.
The motor nerves begin to dry up and the movements
of the body become awkward and slow. The senses
fail; the circulation of the blood is retarded; it
stagnates and congeals in the vessels. More and more