nger_.

We have had cases here at the Institute where, for lack of _activity_,
the muscles around the rupture opening had withered almost completely
away. And usually, in addition to lack of use, the deadening, benumbing
pressure from a wrong truss was partly responsible for that withered or
deadened condition of the muscles.

We can do nothing in cases like that. Neither can an operation or
anything else. It is entirely too late.

Like a man whose _arm_ has been _broken_.

While carried in a sling or plaster cast, the arm tends to lose its
_strength_-- loses it through lack of use.

And if, after the bone has knit, the arm is still carried in a sling,
never used, its muscles would soon _atrophy_ or become _dead_, weaken
and waste away until useless.

A _doctor_ would insist that the arm be _used_ or _exercised_ as soon as
the bone had knit, thus gradually restoring it to strength.

Same way with rupture. It can be _cured_ or made _better_ only by
_strengthening_ the weakened muscles, gently _exercising_ them, giving
them support which takes the _strain_ off them while _helping_ them do
their work until, gradually, they _regain_ their _full_ strength and
_need_ no help.

Yet we of the Cluthe Rupture Institute are the only people to-day who
take that physiological fact into consideration.

How to _apply_ our knowledge of that physiological fact, _how_ to
exercise and thus strengthen the weak ruptured parts while at the same
time _supporting_ and holding them in _place_ wasn't the easiest thing
in the world to discover.

However, the Cluthe Truss or Cluthe Automatic Massager provides
a way. And is the _only_ thing ever invented that can both _hold_ the
rupture and give Nature the necessary assistance in the process of
_strengthening_ the weak parts.

Just _how_ it assists Nature is explained in the next chapter.

_+How to Overcome the Weakness Which Causes Rupture+_

A New Way, But Based on a Principle as Old as the Hills-- A Principle
Recognized by all Doctors

As everybody knows, you can make most any part of the body _strong_
simply by _exercising_ it.

Exercise is a wonderful thing.

Keep a child cooped up-- give it no place to play-- and it will probably
grow up puny and sickly.

While a boy on the farm-- with the big out-of-doors for a playground--
is usually a picture of health.

Or take a blacksmith. He is constantly _using_ or _exercising_ his
_arms_. So you'll find _them_ as hard