Having presented the chief sources of poisoning--of primary toxemia and the various complicating toxemias--it is now necessary to view the effects of these. First, however, let us say, with Dr. Weger, that " toxins are toxins regardless of source or origin. Toxemia, whether exogenous or endogenous, is nevertheless toxemia. Differentiation is not the most important issue."

In a broad, general sense, therefore, we may define toxemia as the presence in the blood, lymph, secretions, and cells, of any substance, from any source, which is inimical to health and, which, in sufficient quantity, will impair organic functioning. However, we must not too loosely employ the term in this blanket manner, but must be careful, always, to keep first things first.

In tracing the pathological outgrowths of enervation and toxemia, I shall follow very closely the work of Tilden, varying only in minor details in some places. Again I shall borrow freely from his published works, making use of few verbatum quotations, on the principle that knowledge is the common property of mankind and that private ownership of knowledge is a capitalistic delusion.

Acute "diseases," or crises (biogonies), are the early symptoms of toxemia. Chronic "diseases," adynamic biogonies, or true pathologies, are the cumulative influence of toxemia on organs which fortuitously stood the brunt of toxemic crises. The many "diseases" recognized by physicians and named in medical nomenclature, are symptom-complexes resting on a common base--toxemia. Their many "diseases" only appear after enervation (tire) has checked elimination and the blood has become surcharged with retained waste--the first, last and only constant cause of so-called "diseases."

So-called acute "diseases," or crises of toxemia, represent forced elimination. When toxins accumulate above the toleration point, resistance is aroused and vicarious or compensatory elimination (crisis, biogony, "disease") takes place. Abnormal elimination (biogony) is made necessary by the checking of normal elimination, and takes place at a point of least resistance, or at a point that has been weakened by irritating habits, or by occupation. This is to say that once toxemia is established, the organs most stressed from environment, work, or habit, will take on so-called "disease." Acute "disease" (crisis) arises when toxic retention is great enough to cause reaction; chronic "disease" (organic change) results from persistent toxic irritation. There would be no chronic "diseases" if the causes of their beginnings were understood and removed.

Toxemia is constant; crises are intermittent. The last straw, necessary to precipitate a crisis, may be a sudden drop in temperature, overheating the body, overwork, an unusual meal, any shock to mind and body, fear of an epidemic, etc. These place an added drain upon the nervous system, place an added check upon elimination, and increase the toxemia above the toleration point. This arouses resistance and a crisis develops during which all efforts at elimination are doubled. Certain organs or parts are commandeered to do vicarious elimination and the process is called "disease."

A biogony may be likened to a safety valve on a steam engine. When steam pressure rises above a safe level the valve automatically opens and lets out the excess steam thereby reducing the danger of explosion. When the pressure has been sufficiently reduced, the valve automatically closes. In like manner, when the toxic load rises above the toleration point a biogony automatically develops and continues until the toxins have been reduced to the toleration point or slightly below, and then automatically ends.

A cold, tonsillitis, bronchitis, diarrhea, or excessive secretion from any mucous membrane is a true vicarious elimination, and when established as a habit, is named chronic catarrh of the different organs involved. Excessive menstruation, nose-bleed, flux, amoebic dysentery, etc., are means of getting rid of excess. All these crises may be modified by infections generated in the gastro-intestinal canal from fermentation and putrefaction going on there. Such so-called "diseases" as typhoid, pneumonia, "flu," etc., are symptom-complexes to which are added complications by feeding, drugging, anxiety and fear by doctors and nurses, also family and friends.

Catarrh of some part of the mucous membranes is the first, or primary, effect of toxemia--this is to say, the common point of vicarious elimination, before the organism is greatly impaired, is some portion of the mucous membrane.

The stomach, being the most abused organ of the body, is the most vulnerable so that indigestion, or catarrh of the stomach--gastritis--is one of the first crises--biogonies. The stomach is stressed by over-eating, by hot and cold foods and drinks, by condiments, and drugs, by wrong food combinations, by eating under wrong conditions, and in many other ways. Next to the stomach in vulnerability, because greatly stressed, are the respiratory organs; for they are subject to the irritation of sudden changes in temperature, in taking hot and cold air, and in exhaling feculent gases developed within the stomach and bowels, and in inhaling noxious gasses and fumes, as of tobacco, automobile exhaust, etc., from without.

Overfeeding during enervation permits gastro-intestinal fermentation, resulting in irritation of the stomach and intestine, poisoning of the body, and irritation of the nose, throat and air passages by the noxious gasses formed. Gastritis, tonsillitis and colds result. If acute and the result of acute indigestion, the crisis soon passes. But if the condition is perpetuated day after day by enervating habits and imprudent eating, the mucous membrane becomes thickened, the nose stops up, the tonsils enlarge, and general adenitis is slowly developed. In those of the tubercular diathesis, the cervical glands often become very large. The tonsils remain enlarged so long as the errors in feeding are continued, or until the surgeon removes them; then if the enervating habits and imprudent eating are continued, rheumatism develops in gouty subjects and some form of tuberculosis in those of the tubercular diathesis.

Indigestion does not develop often before the mucous membranes of the throat and air passages begin to suffer, and colds, coryza, la grippe, "flu," tonsillitis, quinsy, pharyngitis, laryngitis, bronchitis, and similar catarrhal "diseases" are merely nature's way of eliminating excessive toxin accumulation.

The commonest and simplest type of biogony or toxemic crisis, is called a cold or coryza. It is a compensatory elimination of waste which the regular channels of excretion failed, because of enervation caused by one or more enervating influences, to dispose of. If toxemia is mild and not complicated by infection from putrescent ab sorption from the bowels, the cold should be gone in two days or less. If toxemia is of long standing and there is chronic intestinal infection, a cold may quickly take on the character of intestinal "flu."