to begin the
next exercise. There is little danger of soreness from taking
these movements when they are combined with hot water-drinking, as
recommended in Chapter VI, The water seems to cleanse the tissues of
the waste products which ordinarily cause soreness when one begins the
practice of exercises to which one is not accustomed. If one
possesses unusual vigor, then to the exercises illustrated in this
chapter may be added those movements appearing in the following chapter.
All of the exercises given in this chapter are designed exclusively
for the stimulation of the spine and nerve centers. Those illustrated in
the next chapter are intended chiefly to accelerate the circulation
throughout the chest, arms, legs and body as a whole, for when going
through a treatment of this character it is naturally advisable for one
to arouse the activity of all the functions associated with tissue
changes throughout all parts of the body.

Although these exercises have not been devised especially for corrective
purposes in cases of spinal curvature, yet they will be of exceptional
value in all such cases, or at least, where there is no radical
mechanical deformity of the vertebral column. Curvatures may be
prevented in all cases, or may be decreased, or even reduced entirely by
exercise of this type. Incidentally the practice of exercises for
improving the spine and giving one the proper erect carriage has a
very marked effect upon the chest. An erect position always means
expanded chest walls, with plenty of room for the free activity of
the heart and lungs.

CHAPTER VI: Cleansing and Stimulating the Alimentary Canal

The alimentary canal has been rightly termed the human fire-box. It is
there that the energy is created which runs the human machine.
The importance of cleanliness in this part of the physical organism
cannot be too greatly emphasized. Nearly all diseases have their
beginning in the stomach or some other part of the alimentary canal.
Defective digestion and imperfect assimilation represent the beginning
of many incurable and deadly diseases.

In seeking methods for building unusual vigor and vitality, one of the
first requirements is definite information on the care of the
alimentary canal. Mere regularity of the bowels does not in all cases
indicate a healthy condition of the stomach and bowels. A movement in
order to be of the right sort should be so thorough that it le