ACQUIRINGFIRST-HANDKNOWLEDGE 445
that although phosphate of lime is always found in the urine
of adults, it is not found in the urine of children, because in
them the rapid formation of bone requires that this salt be
retained. During the period of gestation there is very little
earthy matter in the urine of the mother, as it is used in the
building of the fetus. In ordinary circumstances, however,
earthy matter is very much in evidence in the urine of adults
and t o this we owe t he fact that physical life r eaches even its
present length.
Undistilled water, when taken internally, is man's worst
enemy, but used externally, it becomes his best friend. It
keeps the pores of the skin open, induces circulation of the
blood and prevents the stagnation which affords the best
opportunity for the depositing of the earthy, death-dealing
phosphate of lime.
Harvey, who discovered the circulation of the blood,
said that health denotes a free circulation and disease is the
result of an obstructed circulation of the blood.
The bathtub is a great aid in keeping up the health of the
body and should be freely used by the aspirant to the higher
life. Perspiration, sensible and insensible, carries more
earthy matter out of the body than any other agency. As long
as fuel is supplied and the fire kept free from ashes, it will
burn. The kidneys are important in carrying away the ashes
from the body, but despite the great amount of earthy matter
carried away by the urine, enough remains in many cases to
form gravel and stone in the bladder, causing untold agony
and often death.
Let no one be deceived into thinking that water contains
less stone because it has been boiled. The stone that forms
on the bottom of the teakettle has been left there by the
evaporated water which escaped from the kettle as steam. If