which we sometimes experience in the dire form of epidemics._

As an illustration, the difference of climatic conditions between the
adjoining States of Washington and Oregon are a case in point.

Among other disturbing influences which effect the electro-magnetic
forces of the body are _overfeeding_ and _underfeeding, too much_ and
_too little exercise_, particularly too much or too little
_stimulation_, or _false stimulation_, or excitement of a physical or
mental nature. Any one of these influences may produce disorder in the
relations of the electro-magnetic forces of the body. The positive or
negative electrons may be abnormally increased or diminished or their
location disturbed.

When the body contains too many negative, slowly vibrating forces, or
electrons, and its aggregate of electron vibration is consequently
diminished, the result follows that the feeling of strength--the
vitality, that is, becomes depressed; we feel weak, tired in the limbs;
we possess little warmth and easily grow cold; metabolism falls below
the normal; the skin becomes pale and so causes the overplus of negative
electrons stored in the mucous membrane to set up a morbid action of
that structure. Catarrh sets in. In short, negative diseases are the
immediate result; such, for example, as nervous debility, anaemia,
diabetes, catarrh of the stomach, intestines or air passages,
_influenza_, cholera and diphtheria. In these conditions the principles
of physiological chemistry laid down by me may well be called into
service and improvement effected by a correct adjustment of diet.

When there is an excess of rapidly vibrating, positive electrical
forces, or electrons, raising the vitality of the nerves and blood above
the normal, the sufferer becomes easily excitable; the body is hot and
inclines to inflammatory, feverish or positive diseases, which take the
form of inflammation of the lungs, measles, scarlet fever, chicken-pox,
typhoid fever, etc.

As I have already remarked, in order to understand a disease and to
undertake its cure, it is first of all necessary to form a clear mental
picture of its course and origin. With this purpose in view and a
medical library at command I have honestly tried to formulate from the
initial stages a mental picture of scarlet fever, measles, and kindred
ailments; but the entire medical literature did not advance me further
than pathological anatomy, which informs us that the original cause of
diseas