Death Begins in the Colon

Death Begins in the Colon.
The subject of alimentary toxaemia was discussed in London before the Royal Society of Medicine, by fifty-seven of the leading physicians of the UK . Among the speakers were eminent surgeons, physicians and specialists in the various branches of medicine. This is a resume of the proceedings written in 1912-13, a 380 page report which is on file at the Royal Society of Medicine library in London . Although this was some years ago, it is very relevant to the present time, and probably even more so. Since that time we have removed more nutrients from food, increased the chemical fertilizers and insecticides and started feeding antibiotics and hormones to our animal stocks, all of which has added more toxicity to the system.
Poisons of alimentary intestinal toxaemia
The following is a list of the various positions noted by the several speakers: Indol, skarol, phenol, cresol, indicant, sulphurreted hydrogen, ammonia, histidine, urrobilin, methylmercaptan, tetramethy-lendiamin, pentamethy, lendiamine, putrescin, cadaverin, neurin, cholin, muscarline, butyric acid, bera-imidazzolethy-lamine, methylgandinine, promarropine, botulin, tyramin, agamantine, trytophane, sepsin, idolethylamine, sulpherroglobine. Of the 36 poisons mentioned above, several are highly active, producing most profoud effects and in very small quantities, and setting up charges which finally result in grave disease.
Symptoms and diseases due to alimentary toxaemia
It shold be understood that these findings are not mere theories, but are the results of demonstrations in actual practice by eminent physicians. Of course it is not claimed that elimentary toxaemia is the cause of all the symptoms and diseases names: although of many it may be the sole or principal cause some of them are due to other causes as well. In the following summary the carious symptoms and disorders mentioned in the discussion in London , to which reference has been made above, are grouped and classified.
The digestive organs
Duodenal ulcer causing partial or complete obstruction of the duodenum; pyloric spasm, pyloric obstruction; distension and dilation of the stomach, gastric ulcer, cancer of the stomach; adhesions of the omentum to the stomach and liver; inflammation of the liver; cancer of the liver. The muscular wall of the intestine as well as other muscles atophy, so that the passage of their contents is hindered. The abdominal viscera lsoe their normal relationship to the spine and to each other, on account of weakening of the abdominal muscles; these displacements are much more marked and serious in women. Other conditions are: Catarrh of the intestines; foul gases and foul smelling stools; colitis; acute entertitis;appendicitis, acute and chronic; adhesions and ?kinks? of the intestines; visceroptosis; enlargement of spleen, distended abdomen; tenderness of the abdomen; summer diarrheoa of children; inflammation of pancreas; chronic dragging; abdominal pains; gastritis; cancer of pancreas; inflammatory changes of gall bladder; cancer of gall bladder; gallstones; degeneration of liver; cirrhosis of liver; infection of the gums and decay of the teeth; ulcers in the mouth and pharynx.
Heart and Blood Vessels
Wasting and weakening of the heart muscles; micorbic cyamosis from breaking up of blood cells; fatty degeneration of the heart; myocarditis; subnormal blood pressure; enlargement of the heart; the dilation of the aorta; high blood pressure; arteriosclerosis; permanent dilation of arteries.
The Nervous System
Headaches of various kinds ? frontal, occipital, temporal, dull or intence, hemicrania, headache of a character to lead to a mistaken diagnosis of brain tumour. Dr Lane tells of a case where a surgeon had proposed an operation for the removal of a tumour from the frontal lode of the brain; the difficulty was wholly removed by the exclusion of the colon. Acute neuralgia pains in the legs, neuritis, twitching of the eyes and of the muscles of face, arms, legs, etc. Lassitude, irritability, disturbances of nervous system, varying from simple headaches to absolute collapse; mental and physical depression. Insomnia; troubled sleep; unpleasant dreams; unrefreshing sleep; the patient awakening tired; excessive sleepiness; patient falling asleep in the daytime; shivery sensation across lower spinal region; burning sensations in face, hands, etc; epileptiform tic; typhoid state; paralysis; chronic fatigue; horror of noises; morbid introspection; perverted moral feelings; melancholia; mania; loss of memory; difficulty of mental concentration; imbecility; insanity; delirium; coma.
The Eyes
Degenerative changes in the eyes; inflammation of the lens; inflammation of the optic nerve; hardening of the lens; sclerotitis; iritis; iridocyclitis; cataract; recurrent haemorrhage in the haemorrhage in the retina, eye dull and heavy.
The Skin
Formation of wrinkles; thin, inelastic, starchy skin; pigmentation?s of the skin ? yellow, brown, slate-black, blue; muddy complexion, offensive secretion from the skin of flexures; thickening of the skin of the back of the hand ? sores and boils; pemphigus; pruritus, herpes; eczema, dermatitis; lupus erythemarosus; acne rosacrea; cold clammy extremeties; dark circles under the eyes; seborrhoea; psoriasis; pityriasis; alopecia; lichen; planus; jaundice; ?an infinitesimal amount of poison may suffice to cause skin eruption?.
Muscles and Joints
Degeneration of the muscles; ?Muscles waste and become soft and in advanced cases tear easily. In young life the muscular debility produces the deformities which are called dorsal excurvation, or round shoulders, lateral curvature, flat-foot and knock-knee?. Weakness of abdominal muscles causes accumulation of faeces in the pelvic colon, which renders evacuation of contents more and more difficult. Prominence of bones; rheumatic pains simulating sciatica and lumbago; various muscular pains; muscular rheumatism; arthritis deformities; synavitis; rickets; arthritis, acute and chronic. Tubercle, and rheumatoid arthritis are the direct result of intestinal intoxication. Dr Lane says ?I do not believe it is possible for either of these diseases to obtain a foothold except in the presence of stasis.?
Genito-Urinary and Reproductive Organs
Various displacements, distortion and disease of the uterus; change in the whole forms contour of women; fibrosis of breast; wasting of breasts; induration of breasts; sub-acute and chronic mastitis; cancer of breast; merritis and endomestritis; infection of bladder especially in women; frequent urination albumosuria; acute nephritis; movable kidney; floating kidney. Dr. Lane goes so far as to say: ?Autointoxication plays so large a part in the development of disease of the female genitor-urinary apparatus, that it may be regarded by the gynaecologist as a product of intestinal stasis.?
General Disorders and Disturbances of Nutrition
Degenration of the organs of elimination, especially the liver, kidneys (Bright?s disease) and spleen; pernicious anaemia; lowered resistance to infection of all kind; premature senile decay; retardation of growth in children, accompanied by mental irritability and muscular fatigue, adenoids, enlarged tonsils; scurvy; enlarged thyroid (goitre); various tumours and thyroid; Raynaud?s disease. In those who apparently suffer no harm from constipation during a long series of years athere is perhaps, as suggested by Hertz, a partial immunity established. The writer has long believed that such an immunity is sometimes established in the very obstinate constipation which accompanies absolute fasting, because of the cleansing of the tongue and reappearance of appetite which often occurs at the end of the second or third week of the fast, a phenomeon very like that which appears in typhoid fever and other continued fevers. It must be supposed, however, that even the establishment or so-called immunity insures the body against all injury. The labour of eliminating an enormous amount of virulent toxins, which falls upon the kidneys, damages the renal tissues and produces premature failure of these essential organs. Any process which develops toxins within the body is a menace to the life of the tissues and should be suppressed as far as possible, and as quickly as possible. The fact that symptoms of poisoning resulting from constipation do not appear at once is no evidence that injury is not done. Dr William Hunter in the course of the London discussion remarked that the fact that chronic constipation ?might exist in certain individuals as an almost permanent condition without apparently causing ill health is due solely to the power and protective action of the liver. It is not any evidence of the comparative harmlessness of constipation per se, but only an evidence that some individuals possess the caecum and the colon of any ox, with the liver of a pig, capable of doing any amount of distoxification.? In the face of such an array of evidence backed up by authority of nearly 60 eminent English physicians ? and many hundreds of other English, US, German and French physicians whose names might be added ? it is no longer possible to ignore the importance of alimentary toxaemia or autointoxication as a fact in the production of disease. To no other single cause is it possible to attribute one-tenth as many various and widely diverse disorders. It may be said that almost every chronic disease known is directly or indirectly due to the influence of bacterial poisons absorbed from the intestine. The colon may be justly looked upon as a veritable Pandora?s box, out of which come more human misery and suffering, mental and moral as well as physical than from any other known source. The colon is a sewage system but by neglect and abuse it becomes a cesspool. When it is clean and normal we are well and happy; let it stagnate and it will distil the poisons of decay, fermanation and putrefaction into the blood, poisoning the brain and nervous system so that we become mentally depressed and irritable; it will poison the heart so that we are weak and listless; poisons the lungs that the breath is foul; poisons the digestive organs so that we are distressed and bloated; and poisons the blood so that the skin is sallow and unhealthy. In short, every organ of the body is poisoned and we age prematurely, look and feel old, the joints are stiff and painful, neuritis, dull eyes and a sluggish brain overtake us; the pleasure of living is gone. To reverse this condition requires a change in diet, exercise and cleansing procedures. One of the easiest and quickest ways has been found in using colon hydrotherapy. This is accomplished by inserting a speculum in the bowel with an inlet and outlet attachement. Water can therefore be instilled and removed at will. This cleanses and exercises the colon and dislodges old waste and gas, giving a light, healthy feeling internally. For further information, please contact The Colonic Association, 32 Wessex Road , Poole , Dorset, BH14 8BQ . Tel: 01202 717727.
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